Italy is known to have a wide variety of cheeses. From soft cheeses such as mozzarella to the harder varieties like Parmigiano Reggiano. Let’s take a look at some of Italy’s finest.
1. Parmigiano Reggiano
About the Cheese: Known as the King of Cheeses. Parmigiano Reggiano may only be produced in the Italian region of Parma. This type of cheese is often found grated over pasta. The value of Parmesan cheese increases as it ages.
Taste: Flaky texture and rich flavour (spicy, salty and tangy – all at the same time)
Variations: 12 Months, 23 Months, 30 Months
Commonly used in Salads, Wraps, Risotto, Pasta and Platters
Find our cheese in all leading supermarkets
2. Gorgonzola
About the Cheese: Made using unskimmed cow’s milk. It gets its name from the town in Lombardy.
Taste: Creamy and brie-like in texture. It has an intense garlicy and peppery taste with an aroma of porcini mushrooms, fermented herbs, and cooked butter.
Variations: Gorgonzola Dolce, Gorgonzola Piccante
Commonly used in Pasta, Risotto, Platters
3. Mozzarella
About the Cheese: Typically produced using buffalo milk. Mozzarella is made using the spinning and cutting method known as pasta filata.
Taste: Soft cheese with a pull-apart texture
Variations: Mozzarella Bufola, Mozzarella Fior Di Latte
Commonly used for Pizza, Bread, Pasta, Platters, and Salads
Find our cheese in all leading supermarkets
4. Pecorino
About the Cheese: The pecorino family of cheeses are all made from sheep’s milk. The most common pecorino cheese is pecorino romano.
Taste: Hard, very salty and a slighter sharper taste than parmesan
Variations: Pecorino Romano, Pecorino Toscano, Pecorino Sardo
Commonly used with Pasta, Soup, salads
5. Burrata
About the Cheese: Burrata refers to sacks of mozzarella filled with cream.
Taste: Fresh creamy, buttery cheese with no salt.
Commonly used in Salads or with bread and pasta
6. Ricotta
About the Cheese: Ricotta is a whey cheese made from leftovers in the production of other cheeses. In fact technically ricotta isn’t considered a cheese but a dairy by-product.
Taste: Creamy and sweet
Variations: Different textures and tastes
Commonly used for Desserts (eg. Cannali), Ravioli, Maltese Pastizzi
Find our cheese in all leading supermarkets
7. Mascarpone
About the Cheese: Mascarpone is made by using a cloth to drain the moisture from dairy cream. In fact Its name comes from the word “mascherpa”, which refers to the cream of milk.
Taste: Milky, creamy
Commonly used in Desserts (eg. Tiramisu) and Risotto
Other Notable Mentions
The list of Italian cheeses goes on. Other notable mentions include : Provolone, Asiago, Fontina, Montasio, Castelmagno, Taleggio, Caciocavallo and Scramorza
