Cow Milk Cheeses from Italy

Discover cheeses made from cow milk in Italy, from historic recipes to contemporary creations.

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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

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

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

Parmesan

Parmesan, often referred to by its Italian name, Parmigiano-Reggiano, is a hard, granular cheese known for its rich flavor and grainy texture. Made from cow's milk, it's aged for a minimum of 12 months, often much longer, to develop its …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Hard, artisan
Flavor: Salty, savory

Cacioricotta

Cacioricotta is a traditional cheese from the southern regions of Italy, particularly popular in Puglia and Campania. It can be made from cow's, sheep's, or goat's milk and has characteristics of both ricotta and aged cheese, hence its name. It …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Goat's, occasionally Sheep's and Cow's mix
Flavor: Sweet to salty, spicy

Montasio

Montasio is a mountain cheese from northeastern Italy, with a PDO designation. It has a firm texture and can vary in flavor from mild and milky in younger cheeses to richer and more robust in aged varieties. Montasio is often …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Elastic to crumbly and hard
Flavor: Mild, creamy, and fruity to savory, piquant, with hints of spice

Monte Veronese

Monte Veronese is an Italian cheese made from cow's milk in the Lessinia region of the Veneto. It comes in two varieties based on aging: a younger, milder version aged for about a month, and an older, richer version aged …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Soft (young), Compact (aged)
Flavor: Sweet (young), Intense and tangy (aged)

Stelvio

Stelvio, also known as Stilfser, is a type of cheese that holds a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. It is produced in Italy, specifically in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano. The cheese is made from cow's milk, which is …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow
Texture: Semi-Hard
Flavor: Aromatic and marked, sometimes pungent

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