Cheeses from Switzerland

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

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Raclette

Raclette is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk, famous for melting beautifully. It is native to parts of Switzerland and France. The cheese is typically heated, either in front of a fire or by a special machine, then scraped …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semisoft, smooth
Flavor: Mildly acidic

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

Emmental

Emmental is a classic Swiss cheese, known for its large holes and nutty, mild flavor. It is made from cow's milk and has a hard, dense texture. The holes, or "eyes," develop during the fermentation process as a result of …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Hard or medium-hard
Flavor: Nutty, sweet

Sbrinz

Sbrinz is a hard, aged Swiss cheese, often considered one of the oldest cheeses in Europe. Made from cow's milk, it is typically aged for 18 months or longer, developing a granular texture and a rich, salty flavor that is …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Unique
Flavor: Unique

Tête de Moine

Tête de Moine, meaning "monk’s head," is a Swiss cheese made from cow's milk. It is traditionally shaved into rosette-shaped slices using a <a href="https://anycheese.com/glossary/girolle/" title="Learn All About The Girolle (Cheese Curler)">girolle</a>. The cheese has a firm texture and a …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semi-hard
Flavor: Nutty

Appenzeller

Appenzeller cheese hails from northeastern Switzerland and is famed for its rich, nutty flavor that intensifies with age. Treated with a secret blend of herbal brine, this cheese develops a smooth yet firm texture. Aged for a minimum of three …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Hard
Flavor: Piquant, tangy

Raclette du Valais

Raclette du Valais is a type of Raclette from the Swiss canton of Valais. It is a PDO product, known for its exceptionally creamy texture and robust flavor that enhances when melted. This cheese is traditionally made using raw cow’s …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk, Eringer breed
Texture: Semisoft, smooth
Flavor: 'Slightly lactic', 'milky', 'mildly acidic', 'fresh butter', 'floral', 'vegetal'

L'Etivaz

L'Etivaz is a hard Alpine cheese from the Vaud region of Switzerland, similar to Gruyère but made in a more artisanal fashion. It is produced only from May to October, using milk from cows grazing on mountain pastures. The cheese …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Hard

Vacherin Mont-d'Or

Vacherin Mont d'Or is a seasonal, soft cheese made from cow's milk in the Jura region of Switzerland. It is traditionally sold in wooden boxes and often enjoyed warm (baked in its container), which turns it into a creamy, decadent …

Country: Switzerland

Vacherin Fribourgeois

Vacherin Fribourgeois is a Swiss cheese made from unpasteurized cow's milk. This semi-soft, artisan cheese is known for its straw-colored interior and washed rind. It offers a buttery and nutty flavor, making it a favorite among cheese enthusiasts. The aroma …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semi-soft, artisan
Flavor: Buttery, nutty

Sweet Style Swiss

Sweet Style Swiss is a semi-hard, artisan cheese from Switzerland. It has a nutty flavor with a hint of sweetness, making it a pleasant choice for many cheese lovers. The cheese has a waxed rind that helps maintain its texture …

Country: Switzerland
Texture: Semi-hard, artisan
Flavor: Nutty

Sap Sago

Sap Sago is a hard cheese originating from the Canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Made from skimmed cow's milk, this cheese is known for its notable green color, which comes from the addition of blue fenugreek. It has a natural …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Hard

Le Gruyère AOP

Le Gruyère AOP is a hard cheese from Switzerland made from unpasteurized cow's milk. It has a fat content ranging from 49-53%, contributing to its rich and creamy texture. The cheese offers a sweet flavor, balanced with an earthy aroma …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Hard
Flavor: Sweet

Piora

Piora is a hard cheese made from unpasteurized cow's milk in the Piora Valley of Switzerland. It has an aromatic and rich aroma that reflects its alpine origins. The cheese is known for its firm texture, which makes it perfect …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Hard

Austrian Alps cheese

Austrian Alps cheese, despite its name, is actually from Switzerland and is made from pasteurized cow's milk. This cheese is known for its nutty and spicy flavor, which offers a warm and inviting taste experience. The aroma is similarly aromatic, …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Flavor: Nutty, spicy

Royalp Tilsit

Royalp Tilsit is a semi-hard cheese originating from the Emmental Valley in Switzerland. Made from cow's milk, it can be either pasteurized or unpasteurized, with a fat content ranging from 30 to 60%. The cheese is known for its creamy, …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semi-hard, smear-ripened
Flavor: Creamy, mild, piquant, spicy

Saanenkaese

Saanenkaese is a Swiss cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk. It is known for its hard, processed texture, making it suitable for slicing and grating. The cheese has a fruity flavor, which provides a pleasant contrast to its strong aroma. …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Hard, processed
Flavor: Fruity

Forsterkase

Forsterkase is a semi-soft, artisan cheese made from unpasteurized cow's milk in Sankt Gallen, Krümmenswil, Switzerland. It has an ivory color and a mold-ripened rind that contributes to its pungent and stinky aroma. The flavor profile of Forsterkase is floral, …

Country: Switzerland
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semi-soft, artisan
Flavor: Floral, spicy, woody

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