For those who have a taste for quality cheese, if you buy Italian cheese on offer you will discover a world of flavor. Italy has over four hundred cheeses with different regional cheeses having a distinctive flair. Artisanally made cheeses add to the distinction. You can now find an increasing array of Italian cheeses on line and in specialty retail stores.
Regional flavor
Piedmont is known to have the most extensive selection of cheeses. The uncommon cheeses of the region include the Castelmagno which is a blue cheese; the Bra which has both mild and strong versions; the Tomme cheese made from a mixture of cow and sheep and goat milk; the intense Raschera; the Robiole des langhe which also has a dark truffle variety; and Tomini fresh or cooked. More available cheeses include one of the oldest Italian cheeses the Fontina and the Fontal the soft cheeses that melt well and the Seiras ricotta.
The northern region of Trentino Alto-Adige has cheeses demonstrating an Austrian influence. The slightly sharp and peppery Vezzena which has a hard granular texture, the mild and delicate Dobbiaco, the fragrant and delicate Grana Padano from Val di Non, the Puzzone di Moena with its intense aromatic perfume are amongst those hailing from this region. From the northeast Val Brembana in Lombardy near the Swiss border is the warm buttery tasting Mandriano di Zambla that is available in the United States and approximates to a cheese not available yet, the Formai de Mut produced in limited amounts that has a delicate aromatic herbal flavor reflecting the cows diet on the alpine pastures.
Lombardy has other standouts that include the savory spice of the Valpadana Provolones, the Taleggio which is a semi soft cheese with a meaty tone and a fruity finish, the rich and creamy Crescenza, the cheese curd Mascarpone used in deserts and Gorgonzola, the Quartiolo Lombardo that can be consumed at different maturities. When young, the cheese has a lemony acidity. After two months, the taste reveals a fruity character.
You can match wines with cheese to enhance the flavor
Friuli has handmade by farmers local unpasteurized specialty cow milk the latteria cheeses made in copper lined vats twice a day daily, the Carnica smoked ricotta and the Montasio that tastes like an Asiago or Swiss cheese when sold young with age lending flavor.
The Emilia Romagna region where Bologna and Parma are situated is renowned for the Parmigiano Reggiano and then there are the Tuscany and central regional cheeses made mostly from sheep milk. The Pecorino cheeses are also made here.
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