Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Renowned Italian Cheeses And Their Characteristics

By Chris Perry

Every country has something in its past which it is proud of and in case of Italy it is the continuing tradition of cultural and culinary heritage, particularly the Italian cheeses, which have been a constant source of pride and worldwide fame. Although Italy is a European country, the Italian cheeses have evolved into global products which have successfully carried the heritage of their parent country to the far and wide corners of the world.

Mozzarella is one of the most popular Italian cheeses due to its incorporation in preparations of pizzas and different types of lasagna. This variety of cheese is a by-product of buffalo milk which is unique only to Italy, and its characteristics are that it is white in color and possesses a soft but chewy texture.

The region of Lombardy in Italy boasts of having given the world its only blue cheese named gorgonzola in form of two main varieties namely gorgonzola mountain and gorgonzola dolce. While the former serves as an accompaniment for white wines, soups and stews due to its sharp flavor, the latter is served with fruits and desserts because it is comparatively sweeter. The special feature of this cheese is that it is mild when it is young and becomes progressively sharper in taste as it becomes older.

Mascarpone is a rich, creamy and mild-flavored Italian cheese which is often used as a replacement for whipped cream in many dessert preparations likes cake, rolls and pastries not only in Italy but throughout the world.

Parmesan is counted among the full flavored Italian cheeses and can be consumed in form of slivers or after being grated although both forms are incomparable in taste to the fresh piece of this cheese. This variety of cheese is distinct due to the presence of a hard rind and should be subjected to maturation for a couple of years before being considered fit for consumption.

Scamorza belongs to the category of Italian cheeses which are served with fruits and prepared from unpasteurized cow%u2019s milk. They can be easily distinguished due to the shape which they acquire due to the process of maturation when the milk is hung by a string and left for a considerable period of time.

Pecorino is probably an exception among the Italian cheeses because it is prepared from ewe%u2019s milk and is available in four main varieties namely Pecorino Romano, Pecorino Toscano, Pecorino Sardo and Pecorino Siciliano. This variety of Italian cheese is salty to taste and is subjected to maturation after which it is normally served as an accompaniment to desserts.

One of the traditional Italian cheeses which have been a part of the Italian culture since the ancient Roman civilization is the Grana Padano which is also prepared from un-pasteurized milk and has a smooth, hard and thick natural rind. This cheese is marked by its pale yellow interior as well as its fruity flavor which would remind one of a pineapple.

About the Author:

No comments: