Explore Cheeses

Explore cheese varieties from around the world, categorized by texture, milk type, and region.

Rocamadour

Rocamadour is a small, round goat cheese from the Midi-Pyrénées region of France. It belongs to the Cabécou family of cheeses and has a creamy texture with a nutty, sweet flavor that intensifies as it ages. Rocamadour is typically eaten …

Country: France
Milk Type: Goat's milk
Texture: Soft and creamy; becomes drier (matured)
Flavor: Mild; becomes stronger

Caciocavallo

Caciocavallo is a traditional Italian cheese made primarily from cow's milk, although some versions use sheep's milk. It has a distinctive teardrop shape and a smooth, golden rind. This semi-hard cheese is aged for two to six months and has …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly
Flavor: Slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex

Colby-Jack

Colby-Jack, or Co-jack, is a blend of Colby and Monterey Jack cheeses. It features a marbled mix of orange and white cheese, combining the mild flavor of Colby with the creamy texture of Monterey Jack. This cheese is particularly popular …

Country: United States
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semi-hard, processed

Pepato

Pepato is a variety of Pecorino that is studded with whole peppercorns, adding a spicy kick to the otherwise nutty and salty flavor of the sheep's milk cheese. This hard, granular cheese is excellent for grating over dishes to add …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Semi-hard, artisan
Flavor: Salty, spicy

Reblochon

Reblochon is a soft washed-rind and smear-ripened French cheese from the Alps region of Savoy. The cheese has a creamy, nutty taste under its orange-colored rind. It was traditionally made using the second milking of cows, which produces a richer …

Country: France
Milk Type: Raw whole cow’s milk
Texture: Ivory-colored, creamy and supple
Flavor: Creamy, nutty

American Gruyere

American Gruyere is inspired by the classic Swiss cheese but made in the United States. It replicates the sweet, slightly nutty flavor of traditional Gruyere. This version is typically smoother and creamier, with fewer age-induced cracks and holes. It is …

Country: United States
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Dense , Smooth
Flavor: Mild, Nutty, Slightly Buttery

Robiola di Roccaverano

Robiola di Roccaverano is a PDO cheese from Piedmont, specifically the Roccaverano area, made exclusively from goat's milk or a blend including cow's and sheep's milk. It has a creamy texture and a fresh, mildly acidic flavor, and can be …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Goat's milk, or goat's and ewe's/cow's milk
Texture: Soft, rubbery, soluble; Crumbly (for affinato)
Flavor: Acidic, savory

Bread Cheese

Bread Cheese, or Juustoleipä, is a Finnish baked cheese that has a springy, squeaky texture. This cheese is traditionally made from cow's milk and heated until the sugars caramelize, giving it a browned, crusty exterior. It has a mild, buttery …

Country: Finland

Cantal

Cantal is one of the oldest cheeses from France, originating from the Auvergne region. It comes in two varieties: young Cantal, which is soft and buttery, and aged Cantal, which is more robust and tangy. This firm cheese is similar …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Firm
Flavor: Varies

Gruyère

Gruyère is a famous Swiss hard cheese, known for its rich, creamy, slightly nutty flavor. It is typically aged for six months or more and has a dense, slightly grainy texture. Gruyère is a staple in <a href="https://anycheese.com/glossary/fondue/" title="Learn All …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow’s milk
Texture: Dense, moister
Flavor: Nutty, complex

Queijo São Jorge

Queijo São Jorge is a traditional cheese from the Island of São Jorge in the Azores, Portugal. It is made from raw, whole cow's milk and is known for its firm consistency and yellow color. The cheese can be hard …

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Cow
Texture: Firm consistency, hard or semi-hard
Flavor: Peppery, grassy

Livarot

Livarot is a strong-smelling, washed-rind cheese from Normandy. It is nicknamed "The Colonel" because of the five strips of raffia that encircle the cheese, similar to the stripes on a French army colonel's uniform. This cheese has a spicy, pungent …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Chewy, Melts in the mouth
Flavor: Pungent

Romano

Romano, also known as Pecorino Romano, is a hard, salty Italian cheese made from sheep's milk, originally from the region around Rome. It is known for its sharp, piquant flavor and is most often used grated over pasta dishes, soups, …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's, goat's or sheep's milk
Texture: Hard
Flavor: Mild, sharp, tangy

Maasdam

Maasdam cheese is the Dutch answer to Swiss cheeses, recognizable by its large holes and sweet, nutty flavor. It is made from cow's milk and has a semi-soft texture. Maasdam matures faster than other holey cheeses like Emmental, developing its …

Country: Netherlands
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semi-hard
Flavor: Nutty, sweet

Gorgonzola-Style

Gorgonzola-style cheese is a type of blue cheese known for its creamy texture and bold flavor. It typically features a crumbly yet soft consistency with blue-green veins running throughout. The taste is tangy and slightly salty, with a noticeable sharpness …

Parmigiano Reggiano

Parmigiano Reggiano is an iconic Italian cheese produced in specific regions of Italy, including Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, and parts of Mantua and Bologna. It is made from raw cow's milk and aged at least 12 months, developing a deep, …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Grainy, flaky
Flavor: Umami

Anevato

Exclusive to the Grevena and Kozani regions in Greece, Anevato cheese is made from a mix of goat's and sheep's milk. It features a creamy, grainy texture and a slightly sour taste. Anevato is often enjoyed in traditional pies or …

Country: Greece
Milk Type: Ewe's or goat's milk or mixtures of both
Texture: Soft
Flavor: Pleasant sourish and refreshing flavor

Arzúa-Ulloa

From the lush pastures of Galicia, Spain, Arzúa-Ulloa is crafted from the milk of local cows. This soft, creamy cheese has a mild, slightly salty taste and a smooth, supple texture, making it excellent for melting. It is often used …

Country: Spain
Milk Type: Cow's milk (raw or pasteurized)
Texture: Soft
Flavor: Slightly salty and pleasantly acidic, buttery and milky with nutty notes

Queso Manchego

Manchego is a PDO-protected cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain, exclusively from the milk of Manchega sheep. It has a firm and compact consistency and a buttery texture, with a distinctive flavor that is well-developed and tangy, …

Country: Spain
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Compact
Flavor: Slightly acidic

Brin d'Amour

Brin d'Amour is a cheese from Corsica, France, made from pasteurized sheep's milk. It has a soft to firm texture and a natural rind. The flavor is earthy with a pronounced milk taste that becomes stronger as it ages. The …

Country: France
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Soft to firm
Flavor: Earthy

Abbaye de Belloc

Abbaye de Belloc is a semi-hard, artisan cheese made from unpasteurized sheep's milk in the Pays Basque region of France. It is known for its smooth, yellow interior and natural rind. The cheese offers a flavor profile reminiscent of burnt …

Country: France
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Semi-hard, artisan
Flavor: Burnt caramel

Yorkshire Wensleydale

Yorkshire Wensleydale is a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) cheese made in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. It is traditionally crafted from cow’s milk and can be made using raw or pasteurized milk. The cheese is known for its firm yet slightly crumbly …

Milk Type: Cow
Texture: Firm, Crumbly
Flavor: Slightly acidic, mellow, and honeyed; stronger and more complex when aged

American

A staple in American cuisine, this processed cheese is known for its excellent melting properties and smooth texture. American cheese is typically mild and creamy, designed to be versatile in dishes like burgers and grilled sandwiches. It's available in various …

Country: United States
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semi-soft, processed

Kefalograviera

Kefalograviera is an aged Greek cheese made from sheep's milk or a mixture of sheep's and goat's milk. It has a hard texture and a salty, nutty flavor. This cheese is often used in Greek cuisine for grating over dishes, …

Country: Greece
Milk Type: Sheep’s milk or mixtures with up to 10% goat’s milk; sometimes cow's and sheep's milk (60:40)
Texture: Firm, elastic
Flavor: Pleasant

Aged Cheddar

Aged Cheddar is a hard cheese originating from England, known for its sharp, tangy flavor and firm texture. As it matures, usually over a period of 12 to 24 months, the cheese develops a crumbly consistency and rich taste that …

Was this page helpful?