Danish Cheese: Types, Examples and Protected Names
Danish cheese is almost always made from cow's milk. The cheese Danes eat most often is mild, but Denmark also makes strong cheeses, such as the blue-veined Danablu and Gamle Ole, a brand of aged cheese with a very strong smell and taste.
Some Danish cheeses are named after places. Maribo is named after the town of Maribo on the island of Lolland, and Samsø is named after the island of Samsø.
Other cheeses come from one region. Molbo comes from the Mols region. Rygeost, a smoked fresh cheese spiced with caraway seeds, first came from the island of Funen.
Danes eat cheese at breakfast, at lunch and in salads. After dinner they may serve a cheese plate, called an ostebord or ostetallerken, with grapes, crackers and wine, according to Wikipedia's article on Danish cuisine.
Gamle Ole is often served on rye bread spread with lard, along with sliced onion and aspic.
Main types of Danish cheese
Soft Danish cheeses
Soft Danish cheeses include Saga, which is a cross between blue cheese and brie. It is creamy, with blue veins under a white mold rind, and it is one of the mildest blue cheeses.
Semi-soft Danish cheeses
Havarti is mild and buttery, with very small irregular holes and no rind. Other semi-soft Danish cheeses include Cream Havarti, Danablu and Danish Fontina.
Semi-hard Danish cheeses
Maribo has a tangy flavor and small irregular holes. Samsø is made in the style of Emmentaler.
Molbo is so similar to Edam that people call it Danish Edam. Danish Feta is a white cheese kept in brine. Both are semi-hard Danish cheeses.
Danish cow's milk cheeses
Havarti, Danbo, Danablu, Maribo and Saga are all Danish cow's milk cheeses. Danish Feta is made from cow's milk too.
Which Danish cheeses have protected names?
Danbo, Danablu and Esrom have EU protected geographical indication (PGI) status. For Danablu, this means only approved Danish dairies can make it. In 2019 the EU also reserved the name Havarti for Denmark.
Denmark lost a long legal battle with Greece over using the name feta for Danish cheese. Since July 2002, feta has been a protected designation of origin (PDO).
In the European Union, only feta made in Greece from sheep's or goat's milk can use the name. After the EU decision, the Danish dairy company Arla Foods renamed its Feta product Apetina.
Danish Cheeses
Danish Cheese Questions
What cheese is Denmark known for?
Outside Denmark, the country is linked with strong blue-veined cheese, such as Danablu, also called Danish Blue. Other well-known Danish cheeses include Havarti, Danbo, Esrom, Blue Castello, Mycella, Vesterhavsost and Rygeost. Almost all Danish cheese is made from cow's milk, and most of the cheese Danes eat is mild.
What is Danish white cheese?
Danish White is another name for Danish Feta, a white cheese from Denmark made from cow's milk. This semi-hard cheese is kept in brine and has no rind. Its flavor is mild and its texture is smooth and creamy, so it works well in salads and cooking.
Is Danish feta made from goat's milk?
No. Danish feta is made from cow's milk. Since July 2002, the EU has reserved the name feta for cheese made in Greece from sheep's or goat's milk. After that decision, the Danish dairy company Arla Foods changed the name of its Feta product to Apetina.
What is Danish blue cheese?
Danish Blue is the name used in North America for Danablu. It is a semi-soft blue-veined cheese made from full-fat cow's milk and homogenized cream. It tastes sharp and salty and has a creamy texture. Its EU protected status means only approved Danish dairies can make it.
Which Danish cheese is flavored with caraway seeds?
Rygeost, also spelled røgeost, is a Danish cheese spiced with caraway seeds. It is a smoked fresh soft cream cheese made from cow's milk and buttermilk, and it first came from the island of Funen. It is traditionally served with radish, chives and rye bread.