Irish Cheese Types, Milks and Where They Are Made
Irish cheese includes hard, semi-hard and semi-soft styles made from cow's, goat's and sheep's milk. Examples include Imokilly Regato, a hard cow's milk cheese from Mogeely in County Cork, and Blue Rathgore, a goat's milk cheese from County Antrim.
Imokilly Regato was first made in 1980. It has had protected designation of origin (PDO) status since 1999.
Wikipedia keeps a list of cheeses and cheese producers from Ireland.
Main types of Irish cheese
Semi-soft Irish cheese
Blue Rathgore is creamy and easy to slice or spread. It is ivory in color and has a buttery, spicy flavor.
Dunbarra is a white cow's milk cheese with a mild flavor and a creamy, smooth texture. It is another of the semi-soft Irish cheeses.
Semi-hard Irish cheese
Cheddar with Irish Porter comes from Kilmallock in County Limerick. It is pale yellow with dark streaks from Irish Porter beer, and it tastes fruity and tangy.
Orla is a brined sheep's milk cheese with an orange color, a washed rind and a salty, sharp taste. It is also one of the semi-hard Irish cheeses.
Irish cow's milk cheese
Imokilly Regato, Cheddar with Irish Porter and Dunbarra are all made from cow's milk. Of these Irish cow's milk cheeses, Imokilly Regato is the only hard one.
Imokilly Regato has a dry, firm texture. It tastes nutty and creamy, with a sharp finish.
Irish Cheeses
Irish Cheese Questions
Is there an Irish hard cheese?
Yes. Imokilly Regato is a hard Irish cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk in Mogeely, County Cork. It was first produced in 1980 and has had PDO protection since 1999. It has a dry, firm texture and a nutty, creamy taste with a sharp finish.
What is Irish porter cheese?
Cheddar with Irish Porter is a semi-hard cheddar made with Irish Porter beer in Kilmallock, County Limerick. It uses pasteurized cow's milk. The cheese is pale yellow with dark streaks from the porter, and it has a fruity, tangy flavor.
Is there an Irish goat cheese?
Yes. Blue Rathgore is an Irish goat's milk cheese from County Antrim. It is semi-soft, so it is creamy and easy to slice or spread. The cheese is ivory in color with a natural rind, and it has a buttery flavor with a spicy taste.
Is there an Irish sheep's milk cheese?
Yes. Orla is a semi-hard Irish cheese made from pasteurized sheep's milk. It is a brined cheese with an orange color, a washed rind and a strong, earthy smell. The taste is salty and sharp, and the texture is firm but slightly bendable.