A lot of people love famous welsh cheese, and most people love adding it to their food. The wide variety of cheeses available these days can make choosing one a little tricky, especially if you’re not particularly familiar with the differences between them all. To help narrow things down, we’ve put together a list of 8 types of cheese you should know about. These are all commonly available varieties you’ll likely see in your local supermarket. Whether you prefer mild or strong flavour, hard or soft texture, you’ll find something on this list that will suit your palate. Let’s get started!
1) Cheddar
Cheddar is a type of hard, semi-hard or soft cow’s milk cheese. It originated in Cheddar, Somerset and is named after that village. Over time, cheddar has become an umbrella term for several styles of British cheese made using similar processes but with local variations in their production methods and flavours. Cheddar is perfect for cheese on toast and having on sandwiches.
2) Parmesan
If you like hard cheeses, then Parmesan is a must. Named after Parma, Italy (also home to balsamic vinegar), Parmesan can range from mild to sharp in flavour depending on how long it’s aged. It’s widely used on Italian dishes and in salads, where its strong flavour stands out more than when it’s melted on something like pizza.
3) Swiss Cheese
Swiss Cheese is a type of cheese that is easily recognizable due to its holes, which are known as eyes. These holes are formed by gas produced by certain bacteria during ripening and ageing. The more gases produced, the bigger (and more numerous) their eyes will be. Therefore, smaller cheeses have smaller eyes while bigger cheeses have bigger ones. This process can take from two weeks to several months.
4) Manchego
Another favourite is Manchego, a Spanish cheese made from sheep milk. It has a very unique flavour and it’s quite versatile. You can enjoy it with crackers or maybe even on sandwiches as well.
5) Pecorino Romano
Pecorino Romano is a hard Italian cheese made from sheep’s milk. With a sharp and salty flavour, it’s used in a variety of dishes like pastas, salads, and meats. It can also be used as a substitute for Parmesan Cheese. While most cheeses have to age for at least six months, Pecorino Romano only needs to age for two months before it can be sold.
6) Gruyere
A soft, creamy-style cheese with a nutty aroma and flavour. Gruyere originated in Switzerland and is considered by many experts to be one of the best cheeses in terms of taste and versatility. Grana Padano: A hard Italian cheese that shares many similarities with Parmesan but has less fat content. Monterey Jack: This type of American cow’s milk cheese features a mild, buttery flavour with an added touch of spiciness.
7) Blue Cheese
Blue cheeses are typically very salty and sharp in taste, with a smooth texture that’s slightly crumbly. The mould on Welsh cheese can be used to add an extra level of flavour to dishes when sprinkled on top, but too much will spoil them. Blue cheeses go great with fruits like apples and pears, nuts like pecans or almonds, chocolate desserts such as mousse, and steak tartare.
8) Roquefort
Roquefort is a soft blue cheese that comes from France. It was first produced in 1091 and has been served on many French dishes since then. One such dish is Roquefort soup, a spicy soup made with onions, garlic, pepper, thyme and tomato purée.