Cheeses from Italy

A guide to cheeses from Italy, highlighting the country's most notable and diverse varieties.

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Provolone

Provolone is a well-known Italian cheese with a smooth, firm texture and a mild, slightly tangy flavor that becomes sharper and more robust with age. Made from cow's milk, this stretched-curd cheese can be aged from a few months to …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semi-Hard
Flavor: Tangy

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

Taleggio

Taleggio is a semi-soft, washed-rind cheese from the Lombardy region of Italy. It has a strong aroma but a surprisingly mild, fruity, and slightly tangy flavor with a creamy texture that becomes more pronounced as the cheese ages. Taleggio is …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Soft
Flavor: Sweet, delicate, slightly sour

Scamorza

Scamorza is an Italian cheese similar to mozzarella, known for its pear-like shape and smooth, elastic texture. Made from cow's milk, it is available in smoked (Scamorza Affumicata) and unsmoked varieties, both having a mild, milky flavor. Scamorza can be …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semi-soft

Grana Padano

Grana Padano is a hard, granular cheese from Italy's Po River Valley. It is similar to Parmigiano Reggiano but aged for a shorter period, resulting in a milder, less crumbly texture. It’s made from partially skimmed cow's milk and often …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Crumbly
Flavor: Nutty

Ricotta

Ricotta is a soft Italian cheese made from the whey left over from the production of other cheeses, primarily sheep, cow, goat, or buffalo milk. It has a creamy texture and a mild, sweet flavor, making it versatile for both …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's, goat's, sheep's or water buffalo's milk
Texture: Soft, moist
Flavor: Sweet, slightly creamy

Mascarpone

Mascarpone is a creamy, soft Italian cheese made from cream, coagulated by the addition of citric acid or acetic acid. It has a very rich, buttery texture and a slightly sweet taste. Mascarpone is a key ingredient in desserts like …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Soft
Flavor: Buttery to slightly tangy

Mozzarella

Mozzarella is a soft, white cheese originally from Southern Italy. Traditionally made from water buffalo milk (mozzarella di bufala), it's also commonly produced from cow's milk (fior di latte). Mozzarella is famous for its mild, milky flavor and stretchy texture, …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's, goat's, sheep's or water buffalo's milk
Texture: Soft, creamy
Flavor: Mild, milky

Provolone del Monaco

Provolone del Monaco is a semi-hard cheese from the Sorrentine Peninsula of Italy, made from the milk of local Agerolese cows. Aged for a minimum of six months, it develops a strong, sharp flavor with earthy and nutty undertones. Its …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Compact with eyes
Flavor: Sweet and buttery aroma with a pleasant spicy taste

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

Piave

Piave is a hard, cow’s milk cheese from the Piave River Valley in Veneto, named after the river itself. Aged for a minimum of 6 months, it has a dense texture and a sweet, slightly nutty flavor. Piave is often …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Dense and crystalline
Flavor: Nutty, sweet

Pecorino Romano

Pecorino Romano is one of the most ancient types of cheese and a staple in Italian cuisine. Made from sheep's milk, it is salty and sharp, traditionally used grated over pasta dishes, incorporated into sauces, or eaten on its own …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Hard
Flavor: Sharp, salty

Pecorino Sardo

Pecorino Sardo, also known as Fiore Sardo, is a firm sheep’s milk cheese from Sardinia, Italy. It comes in two varieties: Dolce (sweet), which is younger and softer, and Maturo (mature), which is harder and has a more intense flavor. …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's Milk
Texture: Firm but springy and elastic for Dolce, Hard and grainy for Maturo
Flavor: Mild and sweet for Dolce, More piquant and pronounced in salt for Maturo

Mozzarella di Bufala Campana

Mozzarella di Bufala Campana is a PDO cheese from the Campania region of Italy, made from the milk of Italian buffalo. It is creamier and more flavorful than its cow's milk counterparts, with a soft, moist texture and a tangy, …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Water buffalo's
Texture: Soft, creamy
Flavor: Rich, tangy

Tuma Persa

Tuma Persa, meaning "lost cheese," is a rare cheese from Sicily, Italy, made from raw cow's milk. This cheese is aged for several months, developing a firm texture and a strong, spicy flavor with hints of saffron and black peppercorn, …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Thermized whole cow’s milk
Texture: Tender, compact
Flavor: Sweet and spicy

Toma Piemontese

Toma Piemontese is a specific type of Toma from the Piedmont region, with a PDO status. It has a more defined character, ranging from mild and creamy when young to firmer and more flavorful with age. It’s excellent for eating …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Elastic / Consistent
Flavor: Mild, sweet / Savory, salty

Gorgonzola

Gorgonzola is one of the world's oldest blue-veined cheeses, produced in Northern Italy. It's rich and creamy with a sharp, piquant flavor that varies depending on its age. Gorgonzola can be spicy (Piccante) or sweet (Dolce), with the latter being …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Soft to crumbly
Flavor: Sweet to savory

Asiago

This Italian cheese from the Veneto and Trentino regions comes in two varieties: fresh (Asiago Pressato) and aged (Asiago d'allevo). Fresh Asiago is soft and creamy with a sweet, mild flavor, while the aged version is harder, crumbly, and has …

Country: Italy
Texture: Hard , Semi-Hard

Pecorino Toscano

Pecorino Toscano is a PDO-certified cheese from Tuscany made from sheep's milk. It has a softer texture and milder flavor compared to other Pecorinos and can be eaten fresh or aged. The fresh version is creamy and mild, while the …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Soft or Semihard
Flavor: Fragrant

Squacquerone di Romagna

Squacquerone di Romagna is a soft, spreadable cheese from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. It is extremely creamy with a mild, slightly tangy flavor. This cheese is traditionally served with piadina flatbreads, and its delicate, creamy nature makes it a …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Whole cow’s milk
Texture: Soft
Flavor: Sweet or slightly acid

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