Cheese Varieties: A Guide to Every Type of Cheese

Explore a wide range of cheese varieties, from soft and creamy to hard and crumbly. Learn about the characteristics, flavors, and best pairings of popular cheese types.

Understanding Cheese Varieties

Cheese is categorized based on texture, aging process, milk type, and region. Discover the different types below and dive into their unique flavors and pairings.

Explore Cheese by Category

Soft Cheeses

Soft cheeses have a creamy texture and mild flavors, making them ideal for spreading or pairing with fruit. Popular varieties include Brie, Camembert, and Burrata.

All Soft Cheeses

Semi-Hard Cheeses

Semi-hard cheeses have a firmer texture and richer flavor, often used in cooking or cheese boards. Popular varieties include Gouda, Monterey Jack, and Havarti.

All Semi-Hard Cheeses

Hard Cheeses

Hard cheeses are aged longer, giving them a dense texture and bold flavor. Popular varieties include Cheddar, Parmesan, and Pecorino Romano.

All Hard Cheeses

Blue Cheeses

Blue cheeses are known for their distinct blue veins and tangy flavor, perfect for salads or bold pairings. Popular varieties include Gorgonzola, Roquefort, and Stilton.

Compare Cheeses

Want to compare different cheeses like brie vs camembert or mozzarella vs cheddar? Click the button below.

Compare Cheeses

Explore Cheeses

Are you looking to explore different cheeses based on their characteristics like milk type, texture, or taste? Click the button below.

Explore Cheeses

Popular Types of Cheese

Cheddar

Gouda

Blue

Provolone

Goat Cheese Log

Muenster

Brie

Aged Goat Cheese

Havarti

Semi-Aged Sheep's Milk

Camembert

Brunost

Ready to Discover More Cheeses?

Explore our full list of cheese varieties or dive into specific categories to learn more about your favorite cheeses.

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FAQs about Cheese Varieties

What is the difference between soft and hard cheese?: Soft cheeses have a higher moisture content, making them creamy, while hard cheeses are aged longer and have a firmer texture.
What are the different types of cheese available?: Cheese varieties include soft, semi-soft, hard, and blue cheeses. Soft cheeses are Brie and Camembert. Semi-soft options are Havarti and Gouda. Cheddar and Parmesan are hard cheeses. Blue cheeses include Roquefort and Gorgonzola.
Is Gouda A Hard Cheese?: Gouda is not a hard cheese. It is a semi-hard cheese. Young Gouda is softer, while aged Gouda becomes harder. It starts out with a smooth texture and develops a firmer consistency as it ages.
Is Provolone A Hard Cheese?: Provolone is not a hard cheese. It is a semi-hard cheese. It has a firm texture but is not as hard as cheeses like Parmesan. Provolone's hardness can vary based on its age.
Is Gouda A Soft Cheese?: Gouda is not a soft cheese. It falls into the semi-hard category. Young Gouda is softer than aged Gouda, but it's firmer than truly soft cheeses like Brie.
Is Mozzarella A Hard Cheese?: Mozzarella is not a hard cheese. It's a soft cheese with a springy texture. Fresh mozzarella is very soft, while low-moisture mozzarella is slightly firmer.
Is Brie A Soft Cheese?: Yes, Brie is a soft cheese. It has a creamy texture and a soft, edible rind. Brie is known for its smooth, spreadable consistency when ripe.
Is Havarti A Soft Cheese?: Havarti is not a soft cheese. Havarti is a semi-hard cheese. It's softer than hard cheeses but firmer than soft cheeses. Havarti has a buttery texture that's easy to slice.
Is Swiss A Hard Cheese?: Swiss cheese is a semi-hard cheese. It's firmer than soft cheeses but not as hard as Parmesan. Swiss cheese has a firm texture with characteristic holes.
Is Provolone A Soft Cheese?: Provolone is not a soft cheese. It's a semi-hard cheese with a firmer texture. Provolone is harder than soft cheeses like mozzarella but softer than hard cheeses like aged cheddar.
Is Cheddar A Soft Cheese?: Cheddar is not a soft cheese. It's classified as a semi-hard cheese. Aged cheddar becomes harder and more crumbly.
Is Havarti A Hard Cheese?: Havarti is not a hard cheese. It's a semi-hard cheese with a smooth, buttery texture. Havarti is softer than hard cheeses like Parmesan.
Is Gruyere A Soft Cheese?: Gruyere is not a soft cheese. It's a hard cheese with a firm texture. Gruyere becomes harder and more granular as it ages.