List of cheeses


This is a list of cheeses by place of origin. Cheese is a milk-based food that is produced in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms. Hundreds of types of cheese from various countries are produced. Their styles, textures and flavors depend on the origin of the milk, whether they have been pasteurized, the butterfat content, the bacteria and mold, the processing, and aging.
Herbs, spices, or wood smoke may be used as flavoring agents. The yellow to red color of many cheeses, such as Red Leicester, is normally formed from adding annatto. While most current varieties of cheese may be traced to a particular locale, or culture, within a single country, some have a more diffuse origin, and cannot be considered to have originated in a particular place, but are associated with a whole region, such as queso blanco in Latin America.
Cheese is an ancient food whose origins predate recorded history. There is no conclusive evidence indicating where cheesemaking originated, either in Europe, Central Asia or the Middle East, but the practice had spread within Europe prior to Roman times and, according to Pliny the Elder, had become a sophisticated enterprise by the time the Roman Empire came into existence.
In this list, types of cheeses are included; brand names are only included if they apply to a distinct variety of cheese.
Cheese production involves several steps, including curdling, coagulation, separation, shaping, and aging. The type of milk used, as well as factors like temperature, humidity, and bacterial cultures, can greatly impact the final product's flavor, texture, and appearance. Artisanal cheesemakers often employ traditional techniques and recipes passed down through generations, while larger commercial operations may utilize more modern and mechanized processes to produce cheese on a larger scale.

Africa

Algeria

NameImageRegionDescription
BouhezzaAurès MountainsBouhezza is a ripened cheese that has traditionally been prepared by the Chaouia community between March and June. It has historically been made from raw goat or sheep milk with the addition of leben, salt, and additional raw milk. It has a soft, smooth, and spreadable texture and is slightly salty, spicy, and acidic, with an intense acidic lactic odor and aroma.
KemariyaGhardaia and NaâmaProduced by local women from the indigenous Wilaya community in southern Algeria, kemariya is a variety of smooth white cheese that is traditionally made with goat milk and can alternatively be made with cow’s milk or camel’s milk. It is also referred to as takkmerit by local Berbers.

Benin

NameImageRegionDescription
WagasiNorthern BeninA soft cow's milk cheese commonly made by the Fulani people that is sold in many units in Parakou, a city in Central Benin.

Egypt

NameImageRegionDescription
AreeshA type of white, soft, lactic, crumbly cheese made from laban rayeb.
DomiatiA soft white cheese usually made from cow or buffalo milk. It is salted, heated, coagulated using rennet and then ladled into wooden molds where the whey is drained away for three days. The cheese may be eaten fresh, or stored in salted whey for up to eight months, then matured in brine. Domiati cheese accounts for about three-quarters of the cheese made and consumed in Egypt. The cheese takes its name from the city of Damietta and is thought to have been made as early as 332 BC.
HalumiSimilar to Cypriot halloumi, yet a different cheese. It may be eaten fresh or brined and spiced. The name comes from the Coptic word for cheese, "halum".
IstanbollyA type of white cheese made from cow or buffalo milk, similar to feta cheese.
MishA sharp and salty product made by fermenting cheese for several months in salted whey. It is an important part of the diet of farmers. Mish is often made at home from areesh cheese. Products similar to mish are made commercially from different types of Egyptian cheese such as domiati or rumi, with different ages.
RumiA hard, bacterially ripened variety of cheese. It belongs to the same family as Pecorino Romano and Manchego. It is salty, with a crumbly texture, and is sold at different stages of aging. Although the texture and taste of Rumi cheese differ according to the aging period, it is usually sharp, strong, and pungent.

Ethiopia

NameImageRegionDescription
AyibeA local cheese that is mild and crumbly. It has little flavor on its own, and is often served as a side dish to soften the effect of very spicy food.

Mauritania

NameImageRegionDescription
Caravane cheeseThe brand name of a camel milk cheese produced in Mauritania by Tiviski, a company founded by Nancy Abeiderrhamane in 1987. The milk used to make the cheese is collected from the local animals of a thousand nomadic herdsmen, and is very difficult to produce, but yields a product that is low in lactose. It is also available and consumed in Senegal.

Nigeria

NameImageRegionDescription
WarankasiA Yoruba cheese made from cow's milk.

South Africa

NameImageRegionDescription
KwaitoKwaito is a South African gouda-style cheese made from cow's milk. It has a creamy texture and mild flavor. Apart from plain and smoked varieties, it may be flavored with peppercorns or other peppers.

Asia

Armenia

NameImageRegionDescription
Aragatsyan panirAragatsotnA semi-hard cheese made from high-quality sheep's milk or its mixture with cow's or goat's milk. It has a mild nutty flavor, soft texture, and a natural rind. Less salty than brined cheeses, with a fat content of 50% or higher.
ChanakhArmenian HighlandsA traditional brined cheese with a sharp, salty flavor and firm, slightly brittle texture, aged in brine and shaped into blocks or truncated cones.
ChechilArmenian HighlandsA brined string cheese that originated either in Armenia or in Georgia, it has a consistency approximating that of suluguni or mozzarella and is produced in the form of dense strings, rolled up in a figure eight of thick braid-shaped ropes.
Kanach panirShirak A mold-ripened cheese known for its greenish appearance and crumbly texture. It is aged in clay pots or leather bags, where natural or introduced mold develops, giving the cheese a sharp flavor and soft texture. Commonly consumed in the Shirak Province, it is typically served fresh and not used in cooked dishes.
LoriLoriA semi-soft Armenian cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk. Similar to halloumi, its curds are boiled during production and the cheese is preserved in brine.
MotalSyunik and ArtsakhA traditional Armenian brined cheese made primarily from sheep's milk or a mixture of sheep's and goat's milk. It is aged for several months in tki, leather containers made from animal hides, and may include herbs such as wild thyme. The cheese has a crumbly texture and a strong, distinctive flavor.
Tel panirArmenian HighlandsTel panir is a traditional Armenian string cheese made from strained, fermented milk. A type of chechil cheese, it’s known for its distinctive braided or threaded form.
YeghegnadzorVayots DzorA semi-soft, aromatic cheese traditionally aged in clay vessels buried underground. Made from cow's or goat's milk with local herbs and seeds, it develops a sharp, salty flavor and creamy, slightly crumbly texture after at least six months of underground maturation. Also known as horats panir.

China

The dominant Han Chinese culture is not dairy-centric, in part due to low rates of lactase persistence. However, some indigenous sociolinguistic groups in regions of the country, such as Inner Mongolia, Tibet and Yunnan, have strong cheese traditions.
NameImageRegionDescription
ByaslagMild, unripened Mongolian cheese made from yak or cow milk.
Chura kampo is a Tibetan cheese and important within the cuisine of Tibet. Chura kampo is made from the curds that are left over from boiling buttermilk.
Chura loenpaA Tibetan cheese that is significant within the cuisine of Tibet. It is a soft cheese, similar to cottage cheese, made from the curds that are left over from boiling buttermilk.
NguriA buffalo's milk cheese of Fujian province, China. It is in a ball-shape approximately the size of a table tennis ball and has a soft, leathery texture.
RubingA firm, fresh goat milk cheese made in the Yunnan Province of China by people of the Bai and Sani minorities. Pictured is fried rubing cheese.
RushanThe name means "milk fan" as it is said to resemble a folding fan.

Georgia

NameImageRegionDescription
ImeruliImeretiA "quick cheese" made from cow's milk. It has a soft "springy" texture and a salty, slightly sour flavour.
SulguniSamegreloA pickled Georgian cheese from the Samegrelo region. It has a sour, moderately salty flavor, a dimpled texture, and an elastic consistency; these attributes are the result of the process used, as is the source of its moniker "pickle cheese". Its color ranges from white to pale yellow. Sulguni is often deep-fried, which masks its odor. It is often served in wedges.
TeniliMeskhetiA string cheese made from either ewe's or cow's milk. It has been included in the Intangible cultural heritage of Georgia since 2013.

India

NameImageRegionDescription
BandelAn Asian cheese that originated in a Portuguese colony Bandel located in eastern India. Today, production is concentrated in the towns of Tarakeswar and Bishnupur, Bankura, near Kolkata, West Bengal, India.Made by separating the curds from the whey with lemon juice. It is then molded, drained in small baskets, and smoked.
PaneerThe origin of paneer is debated. Ancient Indian, Afghan-Iranian and Portuguese-Bengali origins have been proposed for paneer.
Paneer is now widespread in most of the Indian subcontinent.
A fresh cheese common in South Asian cuisine. In eastern parts of Indian subcontinent, it is generally called Chhana. It is an unaged, acid-set, non-melting farmer cheese made by curdling heated full-fat milk with lemon juice, yogurt, vinegar, or any other food acids.
Khoa
  • Batti
  • Chikna
  • Daane
  • Pindi
  • Dhap
A dairy food widely used in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent, encompassing India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Punjab, and PakistanKhoa is a type of cheese made by boiling and reducing milk until it becomes a thick, sticky mass. It is often used in Indian sweets such as barfi and gulab jamun and has a sweet, nutty taste.
ChhanaProduced mostly in eastern Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal; it is the chief ingredient of most West Bengalese-produced sweets.A fresh, unripened curd cheese made from cow or water buffalo milk. A crumbly and moist form of paneer, it is used to make desserts such as rosogolla (রসগোল্লা). It is used in various Hindu religious rituals. The earliest reference of cheese in India dates back to 1400 BCE.
Dahi ChhanaIt was generally homemade in Odisha households of the Cuttack region, but its production has now become very rare.Very similar to chhana in texture, it has a deep, reddish-brown color, and is more distinctly flavorful. It is rich in whey protein. It is produced from traditional buttermilk, and a large quantity of milk is required to produce even small amounts of Dahi Chhana. It has a long shelf life, and can be kept in earthen sikkas for months.
KalariOriginated from Chenani in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.Also known as Kiladi or Maish Krej.
Kalimpong cheeseOriginates from Kalimpong, a hill station in the Indian state of West Bengal.When unripe, Kalimpong cheese is a little like the Welsh Caerphilly, slightly acidic and a little crumbly with a relatively smooth rind and not particularly strong-smelling.
QudamOriginates from the Gujjar tribes of Kashmir.-

Indonesia

NameImageRegionDescription
DangkeEnrekang Regency, South SulawesiDangke is a cheese made from buffalo milk using a traditional process; it is known for having quite high protein and β-carotene content.

Japan

NameImageRegionDescription
Sakura cheeseCreated in Hokkaidō, JapanA soft cheese that is creamy white and flavored with mountain cherry leaves. Sakura means "cherry blossom" in Japanese.

Korea

NameImageRegionDescription
ImsilImsil Cheese Village is located near the town of Imsil. It provides vacation programs for children and tourists, with programs lasting for one day or more, in which guests learn how to make cheese.The cheese produced in Imsil Cheese Village is called Imsil cheese, following the county name.

Malaysia

NameImageRegionDescription
Susu MasamKuala Berang, TerengganuA rare delicacy made from fermented buffalo's milk originated particularly from Kuala Berang area in the state of Terengganu. The milk is fermented inside a bamboo for one night or up to 3 days until the milk is mostly or completely solidified. The taste of the susu masam is described as creamy and sour similarly to yogurt. Susu masam is commonly eaten with rice and budu. It can also be eaten on its own or with sugar.

Mongolia

There are two types of Mongolian cheese. They are similar in taste and are like a cross between mozzarella and an unsalted feta cheese.
  • түүхий сүүний – this is a creamy version of Mongolian cheese made by boiling the milk and keeping the cream top.
  • болсон сүүний – this is similar but is made without the cream.
NameImageRegionDescription
ByaslagPrepared with cow or yak milk, this cheese has a lumpish curd and is somewhat sour in flavor.

Nepal

NameImageRegionDescription
Flower of RajyaA firm yak's-milk cheese made in Nepal by Tibetan nomads in collaboration with the Trace Foundation. Milk is heated and ripened in big copper vats, curdled, drained and molded into 10–12 pound wheels. The cheese is dry-cured in Tibetan red salt, aged, then wrapped in scarves and packed in bamboo baskets.
ChhurpiA yak's-milk cheese, influenced by Tibetan cuisine. Depending on how it is prepared, Chhurpi can be either hard and chewy, or soft.

Philippines

NameImageRegionDescription
Kesong putiA soft, white cheese, made from unskimmed carabao's milk, salt and rennet. It has a soft, close texture and slight salty taste.

Europe

Albania

NameImageRegionDescription
Djathë i bardhëNamed after its color, it is a variation of the Balkanic sirene. One of the most popular types of cheese in Albania, widely used as an appetizer or side dish. Village salad and byrek are the most known recipes where djathë i bardhë is used, but it is also served fried, or baked in terracotta dishes with peppers and tomatoes. Djathë i bardhë is commonly eaten as meze, a term used for appetizers that are served with alcoholic beverages, most prominently, raki.
KaçkavallIn Albania, kaçkavall is the most popular type of cheese after djathë i bardhë. It is considered a traditional Albanian cheese, and is widely used as a side dish. A great majority of traditional restaurants will bring plates of raw or fried kaçkavall for no additional cost before the main dishes finish cooking. All dairy companies in Albania produce kaçkavall and mainly use cow's or sheep's milk.
Djathë pice
GjizëGjizë is a whey cheese very similar to curd or cottage cheese. It is usually salted and it is one of the most used ingredients for byrek. Its taste can be compared to ricotta when served unsalted. Most Albanians consider gjizë as the creamy version of djathë i bardhë.
UrdhëUnaged cheese produced by boiling whey

Austria

NameImageRegionDescription
Bachensteiner
BergkäseA group of cheeses produced in the Alps.
BrimsenAn Austrian term for Bryndza.
Gelundener Käse
Lüneberg cheeseMade in mountain valleys in Vorarlberg in western AustriaA cow's-milk cheese.
Montafoner SauerkäseThe Montafoner Sauerkäse is a cheese made of soured-milk and has its origins in the Vorarlberger Montafon. Sour milk cheese is a lean cheese, so its fat content is very low. The protein content, however, does not suffer from fat loss due to the cream sabot. It is known in Vorarlberg since the 12th century and is similar to the Tyrolean grey cheese.
MondseerMade from pasteurized milk, Mondseer is a semi-solid cheese similar to Muenster cheese or Limburger. The surface is brushed by hand with salt water red smear, and maturation takes four to six weeks. The fat content is 45%. It has a mild to slightly spicy aroma and a sweet and sour taste. Its natural rind is yellow-orange in color.
MoosbacherMoosbacher has been described as "part Emmental-style swiss and part washed-rind stinker".
StaazerStaazer is a semi-hard cheese made from raw cow's milk from Austria. Staazer is made from hay milk, i.e. the cows that give the milk for the Staazer are fed exclusively with grass and herbs from the pasture in summer and exclusively with hay in winter. There is no silage feeding or feeding with fermentation hay. This special, natural feeding makes the milk, and later the cheese, particularly aromatic. The cheese matures for at least 3 months. Staazer has a round loaf shape weighing about 6 kg. The dough is pale yellow, the consistency is compact with few fermentation holes. The taste is aromatic and mildly creamy.
In addition to the regular Staazer, there are also the varieties:
Staazer with wild garlic - 50% fat
Staazer with hay flowers – 45% fat
Steirerkäse
Tyrolean grey Made in the Zillertal, AustriaA strongly flavored, rennet-free cows-milk cheese, it owes its name to the grey mould that usually grows on its rind. It is extremely low in fat, yet it has a powerful penetrating smell.

Belgium

NameImageRegionDescription
Brussels cheeseMade from cow's milk, it has a smooth texture and a sharp and citrus flavor, along with a strong and salty bite.
Chimay cheesesBrands, and varieties, of cheeses produced by Chimay Brewery, some soaked in Chimay Ale.
Herve cheeseAn aged cheese made from unpasteurized cow's milk. It is traditionally aged in humid caves.
Le WavreumontMade by Fromagerie des Ardennes, which is in Ferrières, BelgiumProduced from cow's milk, this cheese is semi-soft and its coloration varies from yellow to ivory depending upon the season in which its produced.
Limburger cheeseOriginated during the 19th century in the historical Duchy of Limburg, which is now divided among modern-day Belgium, Germany, and Netherlands. The cheese is especially known for its pungent odor. One of the most traditional forms of eating Limburger is the Limburger sandwich.
Maredsous cheeseProduced at Maredsous Abbey in Denée, BelgiumA loaf-shaped cheese made from cow's milk. The cheese is lightly pressed, then washed in brine to create the firm, orange crust and pungent aroma.
Passendale cheesePassendale, BelgiumNamed after Passendale, the village where it originated, it is one of the best-known cheeses in Belgium. It resembles a loaf of bread and has a round shape and a hard, but edible brown rind with spots of white. Inside, the flesh is golden, dotted with small holes and very creamy. It has a firm and damp consistency, slightly sweet bouquet and mild flavor. The regular Passendale cheese exists in two variations called Passendale Classic and Passendale Prelude.
RemoudouLand of Herve, BelgiumIt derives its name from the use of milk removed 15 minutes after the usual milking. Hence the wallon verb rimoûd meaning to re-milk. This cheese weighs 200 to 500g. When it is washed with salt it gets a strong taste, and when it is washed with milk it keeps a mild taste. It is often sold in pieces.
RodoricLiège, BelgiumAn aged cheese made from unpasteurized goat milk that is traditionally aged in humid caves. When young, the interior is sweet, with age the flavor becomes spicy.
NazarethNazareth, BelgiumA Belgian hard cheese made from cow's milk, named after the village of the same name. It is now manufactured by Belgomilk, which is part of the Milcobel group. The cheese, which can be identified by its dark brown rind, has a mildly subtle flavour. Quick restaurants have rapidly made a collaboration to serve some "kaas croketten" available in 5 or 13 pièces in every Quick in Belgium.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

NameImageRegionDescription
Livno cheeseLivno, Bosnia and HerzegovinaThe cheese is ready after an average of 60 to 66 days in a controlled environment. The flavor is full, and in older cheeses the taste is slightly piquant. The largest producer is Mljekara Livno or Lura Dairy d.o.o. Livno, with yearly production exceeding 500 metric tons.
Herzegovina "squeaking" cheeseTrebinje, Ivanica, Slavogostići, Gacko in southern Herzegovina, Bosnia and HerzegovinaAnother existing variety of Squeaking cheese from Lika in Croatia is often smoked.
Trappista cheeseBanja Luka, Bosnia and HerzegovinaTrappista or Trapist is a traditional Bosnian semi-hard cow's-milk cheese made by Trappists branch of Cistercians order of Mariastern abbey in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Vlašić / Travnički cheeseTravnik, Bosnia and HerzegovinaThis cheese is produced on Vlašić mountain in central Bosnia, above the city of Travnik. It was originally made from sheep milk, but there are varieties made from cow milk or mixture of both. This is brined mostly low-fat cheese, white in color, and can either have small irregular holes scattered in it, or be solid without holes. When drained from brine its taste can be dry and quite salty. The milk has a special flavor that comes from the variety of different herbs that sheep are eating while grazing on the mountain.
Bosnian smoked cheeseVareš, Olovo, Tuzla, central to northeastern Bosnia, Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnian smoked cheese is a type of very dry piquant low-fat smoked cheese originating from Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is usually home-made product, but industrial production also exists.

Bulgaria

NameImageRegionDescription
Cherni VitCherni Vit, Teteven Municipality, Lovech ProvinceMade from sheep milk, Cherni Vit cheese owes the green color of its crust and its characteristic taste to the formation of mold. This occurs naturally due to the specific conditions in the region and the technology of production. Produced for centuries, Cherni Vit cheese was nearly extinct in the 2000s until it was rediscovered and popularized by Slow Food representatives.
Urdă/IzvaraUrdă/Izvara is made from whey of sheep, goat or cow milk. It is produced by heating the whey resulting from the draining of any type of cheese. It is often made into molds to the shape of a half sphere. The paste is finely grained, silky and palatable. It contains 18 grams of protein per 100 grams.
Urdă/Izvara is similar to ricotta in the way it is produced.
KashkavalA type of yellow cheese made of sheep milk, cow milk or goat milk. In Albania, Bulgaria, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia and Romania, the term is often used to refer to all yellow cheeses.
SireneA type of brine cheese made in South-Eastern Europe, especially popular in Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, North Macedonia, Greece and Israel. It is made of goat milk, sheep milk, cow's milk or a combination of milks. It is slightly crumbly with a fat content of about 30–35%. It is commonly produced in blocks, and has a slightly grainy texture.

Croatia

NameImageRegionDescription
Paški sirIsland of PagA hard, distinctively flavored sheep milk cheese. It is generally regarded as the most famous of Croatian artisan cheeses and is found in many export markets outside Croatia, also known as Godsips cheese.
Paška skutaIsland of PagPaška skuta is a traditional Croatian ricotta-type cheese produced on the island of Pag. The skuta is made from leftover whey after the production of the Paški sir.
ŠkripavacLikaCheese from Lika made from raw cows' milk. The cheese is named after the Croatian word for squeaky, because škripavac makes a distinctive sound when bitten into it.
BasaLikaBasa is a fresh soft cheese from Lika. It is prepared from mixed sheep's and cow's milk.
Krčki sirIsland of KrkHard, full-fat cheese made from raw sheep's milk.
Grobnički sirGrobnikGrobnički sir is produced in the Grobnik valley, near the city of Rijeka.
Dinarski sirDinaraHard cheese produced in the Dinaric mountain region made from a combination of cow’s and goat’s milk.
Dinarski sir iz maslinove komineDinaraDinarski sir iz maslinove komine is a hard cheese originating from the Dalmatian hinterlands around Dinara mountain. It is made from a combination of cow’s and goat’s milk. The cheese is aged for at least 4 months in pressed olive skins.
Sir iz mišineDalmantian hinterlandTraditional cheese from Dalmatian hinterland, Velebit and part of Lika. It is made from sheep's, goat's or mixed milk.
Težački sir iz maslinove komineDalmatian hinterlandTežački sir iz maslinove komine is a Croatian hard cheese originating from the Dalmatian hinterland.
Lećevački sirSplitLećevački sir is characteristic of the Split hinterland, and is produced from cow's, sheep's or mixed milk.
Liburnski sirIsland of PagLiburnski sir is a Croatian cheese hailing from the region of old Liburnia.
Istarska skutaIstriaWhite curd cheese made from full-fat cow's milk or sheep's milk from Istria.
Dubrovački sirDubrovnikHard sheep's cheese, bright soft rind due to the mold made of elastic koščela wood.
Tounjski sirTounjSmoked cheese from Tounj near Ogulin.
PrgicaVaraždinSmoked cheese from Varaždin.
DimsiZagrebSmoked cheese from Zagreb based on Bjelovarac cheese.
CapriloVaraždinCaprillo is a soft, fatty goat cheese. It has a mild but irresistible taste with snow-white mold on the surface.
CapronVaraždinSoft, fatty goat's milk cheese specific in that its ripening takes place under the red pulp, which is why a specific red coating develops on the surface.
OvidurVaraždinHard cheese made from sheep's milk that is produced in the north of Croatia, and which is sent for ripening at the foot of Velebit, which gives it a specific final taste.
ZdenkaDaruvarSoft, processed cheese made from cow's milk hard cheese that is produced in the north of Croatia, by the Czech community in Daruvar, with strong roots in Slavic dairymaking.

Cyprus

NameImageRegionDescription
AkkawiCommonly made using cow milk, but can be made with goat or sheep's milk, it has a smooth texture and a mild salty taste. It is now produced on a large scale in the Middle East, notably in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus.
Anari cheeseA fresh mild whey cheese produced in Cyprus. Although much less known than other Cypriot cheeses, it has started to gain popularity following recent publicity exposure. The whey used is usually a by-product in the production process of other harder cheeses, commonly that of halloumi or kefalotyri cheese.
HalloumiA Cypriot semi-hard, unripened brined cheese made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk, and sometimes also cow milk. It has a high melting point and so can easily be fried or grilled. It is noted for its ability to retain its shape under direct heat, or as a "grillable" cheese.
KefalotyriA hard, salty yellow cheese made from sheep or goat's milk in Greece and Cyprus. Depending on the mixture of milk used in the process the color can vary between yellow and white.

Czech Republic

NameImageRegionDescription
Abertam cheeseA traditional Czech cheese made from sheep milk. It has the shape of an irregular ball with thin yellow to orange natural rind. It is used as a table cheese or for melting.
Blaťácké zlatoA traditional Czech soft cheese made from cow milk, similar Bel Paese.
Olomoucké syrečkyLoštice, Czech RepublicA soft cheese.
HermelínPrague, Czech Republic

Denmark

NameImageRegionDescription
DanboFunenA semi-soft, aged cow's milk cheese, and a common household cheese in Denmark. The cheese is typically aged between 12 and 52 weeks in rectangular blocks of 6 or 9 kg, coated with a bacterial culture. The culture is washed off at the end of the aging cycle, and the cheese is packaged for retail sales.
DanabluØverød, ZealandDanablu is a strong, blue-veined cheese. This semi-soft creamery cheese is typically drum or block shaped and has a white to yellowish, slightly moist, edible rind. Made from full fat cow's milk and homogenised cream, it has a fat content of 25–30% and is aged for eight to twelve weeks
EsromEsrum, ZealandEsrom, or Danish Port Salut cheese, is a Trappist-style pale yellow semi-soft cow's milk cheese with a pungent aroma and a full, sweet flavour. It is a porous cheese, with many small holes throughout, and is slightly elastic and buttery in texture.
FynboFunenA semi-hard Danish cheese named after the island of Fyn. It has a flavor of buckwheat and is processed with a combination of mesophilic and thermophilic bacterial cultures.
HavartiØverød, ZealandAlso known as cream Havarti, a semi-soft cow's milk cheese made like most cheeses by introducing rennet to milk to cause curdling. The curds are pressed into cheese molds which are drained, and then the cheese is aged. It is a washed curd cheese, which contributes to the subtle flavor. It is interior-ripened, rindless, smooth and slightly bright-surfaced. It has very small and irregular openings distributed in the mass. Havarti has a buttery aroma and can be somewhat sharp in the stronger varieties, much like Swiss cheese. The taste is buttery, and from somewhat sweet to very sweet, and it is slightly acidic.
MariboLollandA semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk. It has a firm, dry interior; a creamy texture; and many small, irregular holes. It has a pale tan rind covered in yellow wax. Its flavour is tangy, and it is sometimes seasoned with caraway seeds.
MolboMolsA semi-hard cow's milk cheese made in the region of Mols. It is very similar to Edam, with a delicate, light flavour that is slightly tangy and salty. It has small, regular holes and is covered in a red wax coating.
SagaTolstrup, JutlandA mix of blue cheese and brie, creamy, blue-veined cheese with a white-mould rind. Saga is a very mild blue-veined cheese. It comes with a delicate blue mold, that may not appear in other varieties of blue cheeses. It is aged for more than 60 days.
Samsø cheeseSamsøA cow's milk cheese named after the island of Samsø. It is similar to Emmentaler, although its flavour is milder: gentle and nutty in young cheeses and pungent with sweet and sour notes in older ones. Samsø's interior has a supple, elastic texture; a yellow colour; and a few large, irregular holes. It is the national cheese of Denmark.
TyboThy, JutlandA cow's milk cheese, similar to a mild Samsø. It is loaf-shaped, with a cream-colored, holey interior and a yellow rind. It has a slightly salty, smooth, and lactic flavor.
VesterhavsostThise, Northwest JutlandA semi-soft cow's milk cheese with briny and caramelly tasting notes, it is comparable to Gouda.

Estonia

NameImageRegionDescription
AtleetSemi hard cheese with little sour flavor made from cow's milk, produced by Valio.
Eesti JuustSemi hard Dutch-type cheese made from cow's milk, produced by Estover.
Kadaka juustSaaremaaSemi hard smoked cheese made from cow's milk, produced by Saaremaa Piimatööstus. Also available with garlic.

Finland

NameImageRegionDescription
AuraÄänekoski, FinlandBlue cheese made from cow's milk, produced by Valio.
LappiLaplandMade from partially skimmed cow's milk, similar to Emmental except that it is pasteurized.
LeipäjuustoSouthern Ostrobothnia, KainuuFresh cheese made from cow's beestings. Sometimes made from goat#Milk, [butter, and cheese|goat] or reindeer milk.
OltermanniSemisoft cow's milk cheese, similar to Danish Havarti, both types are called kermajuusto in Finland. Produced by Valio.
RaejuustoFresh cheese made from cow's milk, similar to cottage cheese.

Germany

Germany's cheese production accounts for approximately one-third of all European-produced cheeses.

Greece

NameImageRegionDescription
AnthotyrosA traditional fresh cheese. There are Dry Anthotyros and Fresh Anthotyros. Dry Anthotyros is a matured cheese similar to Mizithra. Anthotyros is made with milk and whey from sheep or goats, sometimes in combination. The ratio of milk to whey usually is 9-to-1. It is commonly a truncated cone, but when shipped in containers may be crumbled, as it is removed. It may be unpasteurized, where law allows.
ChloroSantorini
FetaPDOEpirus, Macedonia, Thrace, Thessaly, Peloponnese, LesbosFeta is a brined curd white cheese made only in Greece. It is made from sheep's milk, or from a mixture of sheep and goat's milk. The word "feta" in Greek means "slice".
GravieraPDO Agrafa, Crete, NaxosGraviera is a type of Greek hard yellow cheese. It is made exclusively from sheep or goat milk.
KasseriPDO Macedonia, Thrace, Thessaly, Lesbos
KefalogravieraPDO Crete, Sterea Ellada
Kefalotyri
KopanistiPDO Cyclades
MalakaCreteAlso known as Tiromalama. Made from Graviera curd.
ManouriPDO Thessaly
MetsovonePDO Metsovo, Epirus
MyzithraCrete
TyrozouliCreteMade from Myzithra by adding salt, causing dehydration, and allowing maturation.
XynomizithraPDO Crete, Mykonos, Paros
XynotyroMykonos
Other PDO cheesesFormaela, Galotyri, Kalathaki, Katiki, Ladotyri, Pichtogalo Chanion, Sfela, Xygalo

Hungary

NameImageRegionDescription
Gran CastelliA hard ripened cheese
Liptauer or KörözöttA spicy cheese spread made with sheep milk cheese, goat's milk cheese, quark cheese or cottage cheese.
OrdaMade from whey
PálpusztaiPálpusztai is a Hungarian soft cow's milk cheese, known for its pungent odor.
Trappista cheeseTrappista is a traditional Hungarian, Bosnian and Serbian semi-hard cow's-milk cheese. It has a mild flavor and melts easily.
OázisSmoked cheese
Balaton cheeseA semi-hard, mild, yellow cheese made from cow's milk.
KaravánKaraván is a smoked Hungarian cow's milk cheese.
PannóniaPannónia Emmentaler is a Hungarian version of the Swiss Emmenthal cheese.

Iceland

NameImageRegionDescription
HöfðingiA type of Icelandic cheese, described as a "creamy-soft, almost runny cheese with a white rind/crust and a smooth, mild flavor".

Jews of Eastern Europe

NameImageRegionDescription
Fried Camembert cheeseEastern Poland, Galicia (Eastern Europe), Belarus, and the Vilnius Region, Lithuania.It is made of cow milk and usually added to salads or eaten alone.

Kosovo

NameImageRegionDescription
Šar cheeseGora, Opolje, Štrpce, in the Šar Mountains, KosovoIt is made of sheep and cow milk and usually added to salads and main dishes, pitas, served with bread or eaten alone.

Latvia

NameImageRegionDescription
Jāņi cheeseIt is a mixture of raw quark and fresh milk, but other products can be added.
Latvian cheeseA type of cheese with a strong specific aroma modeled after the Limburger.

Lithuania

  • Džiugas

Luxembourg

NameImageRegionDescription
CancoillotteMade from Metton, a cow's milk cheese from the Franche-Comte region of France, it's a local cheese speciality. A staple of each Luxembourgish meal. Usually called kachkéis here.
Crème de ChapelainAnother local processed cheese specialty, similar to kachkéis.
Fromage Gouda de biére du BattinA local version of the beloved Dutch cheese made from unpasteurized cow's milk. It is also inspired by the Belgian monastery cheeses, as it was largely influenced by the Flemish cheesemakers that came to Luxembourg to make cheese.

Malta

NameImageRegionDescription
ĠbejnaCommonly associated with the island of GozoA small round cheese made from sheep's milk, salt and rennet, Ġbejniet are prepared and served in a variety of forms. Until the early 20th century, ġbejniet made from unpasteurised milk were one of the causes of the spread of Brucellosis which was so prevalent as to be called "the Maltese fever".

Moldova

NameImageRegionDescription
CașcavalA type of yellow cheese made of sheep milk. In the Moldova the term is often used to refer to all yellow cheeses.
UrdăAn unaged whey cheese
BrânzăA salty brined cheese made from sheep milk.
Brânză de vaciMade from whole cow milk without additives such as rennet. It has a dry, crumbly texture, and takes a spherical shape from the cheesecloth in which the cheese was strained from whey.

Netherlands

The Netherlands is one of the major cheese producing countries of Europe, with a tradition of cheesemaking as shown by the Dutch cheese markets.

Norway

NameImageRegionDescription
BrunostA caramelized brown Scandinavian whey cheese. Brunost is commonly used instead of mysost , which is the correct name. Another variant, made using goat milk, is referred to and sold as geitost or, in an older Dano-Norwegian spelling no longer used in Norway, as gjetost. Geitost is made from a mixture of goat's and cow's milk; ekte geitost is made with goat's milk only.
GamalostA sour cheese made from skimmed cow's milk
GeitostGoat's milk variety of Brunost
Heidal cheeseA Norwegian brunost named after the parish of Heidal in the northern part of the Gudbrand Valley.
Jarlsberg cheeseA mild cow's-milk cheese with large regular holes
NøkkelostA semi-hard, yellow cow's milk cheese flavored with cumin and cloves
NorvegiaA Norwegian cow's milk cheese produced by Tine
PultostA soft, mature sour milk cheese flavored with caraway seeds, it is found in two variants, spreadable and grainy
SnøfriskA goat cheese made by Tine

Poland

The history of cheesemaking in Poland goes back to 5500 BC, when cheese similar to mozzarella was produced in Neolithic times in Kujawy.
Poland is the 7th largest cheese producer in the world and has the 18th highest cheese consumption.
Marek Kosmulski described over 600 types of Polish cheeses manufactured between 1948 and 2019.
NameImageRegionDescription
BałtyckiPolish brand of cheese.
BryndzaSheep milk cheese made in Poland, Slovakia. Recipes differ slightly across the countries.
Bryndza PodhalańskaPodhale region.Polish variety of the soft cheese bryndza. It is prepared with sheep milk and was registered in the European Union's Register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications on 11 June 2007 as a Protected Designation of Origin.
BundzTraditionally produced in Podhale.A sheep milk cheese.
BursztynA brand of cheese. It is a mature cheese similar to Gruyere.
EdamskiMazuria.A rennet cheese based on Dutch Edammer.
Farmer cheeseIn Poland, farmer cheese is similar in consistency to cottage cheese. The cheese is formed into a loaf. It is sometimes referred to as "pot cheese."
GołkaSilesian Voivodeship.Similar to oscypek, but made with milk from cattle.
GryfickiGryfice Dairy, province of Szczecin.Production began in 1973.
HauskyjzaWielkopolska, Pomerania, Kuyavia, and Silesia.Foodstuff made of cottage cheese, caraway and other ingredients, which are mixed, put aside for a few days to acquire the characteristic sharp flavor and tacky consistency, and then warmed and fried.
Kortowski
KorycińskiPodlaskie Voivodeship in eastern Poland.Hard yellow cheese made from cows' milk. Named after the town of Korycin.
KrólewskiNorthwestern Masovia."Royal cheese"; similar in taste and appearance to Swiss Emmental.
LiliputWielkopolska.A cows' milk cheese.
LechickiKnown in Poland as Brochocki cheese, which derives from the name of the farmer who began producing it.
Łowicki
Lubuski
MazurskiA brand of cheese.
MorskiMild, semi-soft cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk. Melts well, often used as a table cheese.
OscypekMade exclusively in the Tatra Mountains region of Poland.Smoked sheep milk cheese, there is also a smaller form called redykołka, known as the 'younger sister' of oscypek.
PrzeworskiA rennet cheese, classified as ripening, produced from cow's milk and an infusion of mint and marjoram. It has a delicately spicy taste and an aroma of herbs. Named after the town of Przeworsk in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship.
RadamerFrom Polesie.A cows' milk cheese, with Dutch and Swiss influence.
RedykołkaProduced in the Podhale region.Sometimes known as the "younger sister" of Oscypek and the two are occasionally confused. The cheese is often made in the shape of animals, hearts, or decorative wreaths.
RokpolWielkopolska.Polish blue cheese similar to French blue cheeses. The name derives from Roquefort and suggests that it is a Polish Roquefort, however, it is made with cows' milk.
Słupski chłopczykProduced in Słupsk.A Camembert-type cheese, produced before the second world war, reintroduced in 2007, but the production was stopped in 2013.
TwarógAlso known as ser biały. Pictured is Polish twaróg in the traditional wedge shape.
TylżyckiMazuria.A yellow cheese made from cow's milk. A semi-hard cheese that is a variety of Tilsiter.
Wielkopolski ser smażonyWielkopolska.A fried cheese served as a dip similar to fondue.
Zamojski
ZgorzeleckiA semi-hard, yellow cheese made from cows' milk.

Portugal

NameImageRegionDescription
Castelo Branco cheese
Beira Baixaa cheese named after the city of the same name in Portugal, the main city of the district where it is produced. The cheese is made from milk produced by either a goat or a ewe, and has a soft texture.
Queijo de Nisa
Alto Alentejoa semi-hard sheep's milk cheese from the municipality of Nisa. It is created from raw milk, which is coagulated, then curdled using an infusion of thistle.
Queijo do Pico
AzoresOriginating from the island of Pico, this cured cheese is produced in cylindrical formats from cow milk It is considered a fatty cheese and the ripening of the cheese forms a yellow exterior irregular crust and yellowish-white, soft and pasty interior. Pico cheese has a salty taste and a, characteristically, intense aroma.
Queijo de Azeitão Azeitão, SetúbalSheep's milk cheese originating from the town of Azeitão.
São Jorge
AzoresProduced in the São Jorge Island, this is a hard/semi-hard cheese made from unpasteurised cow's milk, and the pâte has small eyes.
Serra da Estrela
Serra da EstrelaProduced in a mountainous region this cheeses is made from sheep's milk, mostly during the months of November to March. The texture of the paste varies depending on its age, from a very soft semi-liquid when young, to a soft but sliceable solid when older. It is a cured cheese created by artisanal producers with a white or slightly yellow color and a uniform creamy consistency with at most a few small holes in it.
Trás-os-Montes
Trás-os-MontesA goat cheese from Alto [Trás-os-Montes Subregion|Alto Trás-os-Montes], Norte Region, Portugal.
RequeijãoA milk-derived product produced in Portugal, it is sometimes called requesón in English-speaking countries. It is a loose, ricotta-like cheese used to make cheese spreads.
Saloio
Santarém cheese
Serpa cheese

Romania

NameImageRegionDescription
Brânză de burdufA salty type of cheese prepared with sheep's-milk, it has a strong flavor and is slightly soft in texture. To obtain it, sweet caș is cut into small pieces, salted and then hand-mixed in a large wooden bowl. The mixture is then placed in a sheep's stomach, or into a sheep's skin that has been carefully cleaned and sawed on the edges, or in a tube made of pine bark.
Brânză de SuhaiaSuhaia cheese is a dairy product matured in brine, prepared in the neighboring territories of Suhaia commune and, predominantly, in Suhaia commune, Teleorman, Romania.
The distinguishing feature of this type of cheese is the fact that the product is subjected to the technological operations of wet and dry salting, respectively, which gives not only a special taste, but also a longer shelf life.
Brânză de vaci Made from whole cow milk similar to cottage cheese.
CașSweet non-fermented cheese obtained from cow's or sheep's milk. Drained in cheesecloth could be eaten fresh, smoked, or further prepared into brânză de burduf.
CașcavalCașcaval is used to refer to a number of types of yellow medium and semi hard cheeses made of sheep's or cow's-milk.
Năsal cheeseNăsal is a traditional Romanian cheese bearing the same name as the village where it is produced in the Țaga commune, Cluj County. It is a smear-ripened cheese made from cow's milk.
TelemeaSweet to extremely salty cheese obtained from cow's or sheep's raw or pasteurized milk. Two main categories: fresh – available seasonally and preserved -available year around. Fresh telemea is soft, and in various degrees of saltiness. Preserved telemea is harder and salt saturated due to its brine preservation. Preserved telemea is almost identical to Greek Feta cheese.
UrdăSweet, soft, with a sandy texture cheese obtained from boiled whey of cow or sheep milk, almost identical to Italian ricotta cheese.

Russia

NameImageRegionDescription
Circassian cheeseAdygheaA crumbly non-melting and mild fresh cheese that is produced in the North Caucasus. It is a cultural cheese and staple for Circassians that is very famous in Russia, and the Middle east countries and worldwide.
KorallA soft, processed cheese made of cow's milk
Russian cheesesimilar to German Tilsiter
Tvorog Similar to cottage cheese, version without cream.

Serbia

NameImageRegionDescription
KačkavaljA type of stretched-curd cheese made out of sheep's or cow's milk. Pictured is Kačkavalj cheese hanged to mature
Pule cheeseReportedly the world's most expensive cheese, it is prepared from the milk of Balkan donkeys from Serbia.

Slovakia

NameImageRegionDescription
BryndzaA sheep milk cheese made in Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine. Recipes differ slightly across the countries.
LiptauerA spicy cheese spread made with sheep milk cheese, goat's milk cheese, quark cheese or cottage cheese.
Ovčia hrudka
Kravská hrudka
KorbáčikyOravaA type of string cheese made from steamed cheese interwoven into fine braids. Common flavors include salty, smoked and garlic.
OštiepokA traditional Slovakian smoked sheep milk cheese, it is a protected trade name under the EU's protected geographical indication.
ParenicaA traditional Slovakian cheese, it is a semi-firm, non-ripening, semi-fat, steamed and usually smoked cheese, although the non-smoked version is also produced. Parenica is cream and yellow in color, which is darkened by steaming. The cheese is produced in strips, which are woven into snail-like spirals.
Urda
Tvaroh
Encián
Plesnivec

Slovenia

NameImageRegionDescription
MohantA soft cheese with a strong flavor.
Tolminc cheeseTolminMade with raw cow milk, it has a sweet and spicy flavor. The cheese is registered as a Protected Designation of Origin.

  • Bohinc Jože
  • Nanoški
  • Planinski

Sweden

NameImageRegionDescription
ÄdelostA blue cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk. It has a light cream color with evenly distributed blue-gray veins and a sharp, salty flavor. The cheese has a slightly moldy rind.
Blå GotlandStånga"Gotland Blue" is made in Sweden by the Arla Foods company in the town of Stånga on the island of Gotland. This cheese is often characterized as being somewhere between strong and mild, containing elements of both types. The color is a pale yellow, and it has no holes.
GrevéA semi-hard Swedish cheese made from cow's milk. It is similar to Emmental with a mild and nutty taste. The cream-coloured cheese has a smooth and creamy texture with large holes. It contains 30–40% fat and takes 10 months to attain full ripeness.
Gräddost
HerrgårdsostA semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk. The aged cheese has a mild, sweet, nutty flavor and small round holes. It is aged for three or four months, but often up to 12 or even 24 months.
HushållsostA semi-hard cows'-milk cheese with small granular holes and aged around 60 days on average. The taste is described as mild yet somewhat sour.
Moose cheeseBjurholm, SwedenA cheese produced in Sweden from moose milk
PrästostMade from pasteurized cow's milk.
SveciaA semi-hard cow's-milk cheese, with a creamy consistency, light yellow colour, small irregular holes, and a mildly acidic taste. The cheese is aged in a dry environment for at least two months, sometimes up to more than a year.
VästerbottensostBurträskA hard cow's milk cheese with tiny eyes or holes and a firm and granular texture. Strong in flavour, its taste is described as somewhat like Parmesan cheese, salty, but with more bitter notes. Västerbotten cheese must be aged for at least 12 months.

Switzerland

is home to over 450 varieties of cheese. Cows milk is used in about 99 percent of the cheeses produced. The remaining share is made up of sheep milk and goat milk.

Ukraine

NameImageRegionDescription
BilozharRennet cheese 45% of fat in dry matter
BukovynskyiBukovinaA hard cheese made from cow's milk, it has moderate piquant cheese flavour and fruit and citrus aroma. Ageing period: 20 days.
BryndzaBudjak, Bukovina, Ciscarpathia, Podolia, TranscarpathiaA sheep milk cheese made in Moldova, Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine. Recipes differ slightly across the countries. Pictured is Ukrainian Carpathian bryndza.
DobrodarHard cheese 50% of fat in dry matter. Ageing period: 45 days.
SmetankovyiA hard rennet cheese made from pasteurised milk with moderate sweetish cheese flavour with no piquancy, delicate creamy overtones, and small holes. Ageing period: 30 days.
SyrA firm quark version, somewhat similar to cottage cheese. It is often called, although the name could refer to any cheese in general; to differentiate it from other cheeses, names and are common.
UkrainskyiHard cheese 50% of fat in dry matter.
VurdaHutsulshchynaSort of whey cheese

United Kingdom

The British Cheese Board states that there are over 700 named British cheeses produced in the UK.
NameImageRegionDescription
Banbury cheeseBanbury, Oxfordshire, EnglandOnce one of Banbury's most prestigious exports, and nationally famous, its production went into decline by the 18th-century, and eventually ceased. The cheese is best known today through an insult in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor. Pictured is a 15th/16th-century recipe for Banbury cheese.
Cheddar cheeseCheddar, SomersetThe UK's most famous cheese, and one of the most popular.
Stilton CheeseMelton Mowbray, LeicestershireStilton is produced in two varieties: Blue, which has had Penicillium roqueforti added to generate a characteristic smell and taste, and White, which has not.
Wensleydale CheeseWensleydale, North YorkshireWensleydale's most popular export. Commonly sold with cranberries added.
Stinking Bishop CheeseDymock, GloucestershirePerhaps the UK's most notorious cheese, known for its distinctive odour.
Red LeicesterLeicester, LeicestershireA cheese similar to cheddar with a crumbly texture. It gets its orange colour from annatto extract during the manufacturing process.

Middle East

Iran

NameImageRegionDescription
Lighvan cheeseLiqvana brined curd cheese traditionally made in Iran. Having a sour flavor, and a shape covered by holes, the cheese is produced from sheep's milk. The name comes from Liqvan, a village in Tabriz, where it has traditionally been made.
Talesh cheeseTaleshit can only be found in Talesh County. this cheese is made from goat or sheep milk. Once the cheese is processed, it is held in sheep or goat skin for aging and preservation.
Mahali cheeseMazandaranThis cheese is very similar to Indian Paneer. It is made from full fat cow's milk. It tastes mild and is kept in salt brine.
Pot Cheese کوزهUrumiaKuzeh Paniri or Kupe paniri or Pot Cheese is a form of salty cheese made of Cow's milk and stored in a pot or jug under the ground for fermentation. It is common in Northwest of Iran specially in cities of Khoy and Urumia. It is made by adding white vinegar to cooled down boiled milk and then gathering the curd and stuffing it in a pot or jug and then the pot is buried under the ground where water is sometimes added to the soil. Sesame seeds or fennel flower seeds and poppy seeds and black caraway is then added to taste better and also lots of salt, after at least 2 months being in the pot it is taken out and then sun dried.

Middle East

NameImageRegionDescription
Tzfatit KashahUpper GalileeHard texture, savory flavor; perfect for grating on top of Shakshouka, Manakish, Burekas or on a baked dumpling called calsonas.
Tzfatit TriahUpper GalileeMild flavor; texture ranges from creamy to firm, is preserved in salty water and mainly used on salads or as a filling for sandwiches.
LabnehSimilar to Greek yogurt, labneh is a strained yogurt product that is common in the Middle East and the Levant. Pictured is Labneh in olive oil
KashkawalA type of yellow cheese made of sheep milk. In Israel it is often mixed with white brined cheese in a salty pastry and to make a toast.
Qishtais a heavy cream that is very popular in the Middle East. Traditionally, it is made by skimming the thickest part of the cream from whey. The product is used both as an ingredient in cooking and is mixed with honey to be eaten as an incredibly rich dessert. Rich Cow brand Kashta is a fresh, rich-tasting, cream product texture of which is smooth and thick. It has a sixty-day refrigerated shelf life.
HalloumiUnlike its Cypriot variation, in Israel, Halloumi cheese is usually eaten for breakfast as a meze dish fried in olive oil as well as being part of a main course omelette dish called habitath halloumi which includes an omelette, halloumi and herbs.
HemedThe color is white and it has a smooth texture and a mild salty taste. It is commonly used as a table cheese eaten by itself or paired with fruit, used in pastries as well.
KedemBitzaronA creamy type of cheese, almost like Sour Cream. made of Water Buffalo's milk and used either in pastries or as a spread eaten with bread and olive oil.
KnaaanUpper GalileeA cheese that is not too sour, therefore it can be either salted or sweetened, used in pastries and desserts.
HermonUpper Galilee and GolanA cheese that has a similar texture to that of the Knaan cheese, yet is saltier.
KhallaA mild, and not salty type of a cheese, its name is derived from its appearance which looks like braided bread.
ArrabahNeot SmadarA cheese that has originated in the southernmost part of Israel. It has a relatively mild flavour and not too salty, can be used in pastries and salads.
KafritAlso known as rural cheese, one of the most basic Cheeses in Israel, it has a texture relatively similar to that of a Feta cheese but generally less salty.

Levant

NameImageRegionDescription
AkkawiAcreA white brine cheese. It is named after the city of Acre, where it first originated, and is commonly made using cow milk, but can also be made with goat or sheep's milk. It is widely used in Knafeh but Nabulsi cheese is used more often.
AreeshOriginated in EgyptIt is similar to cottage cheese. Shanklish, a fermented cheese, is made from areesh cheese.
Baladi cheeseSoft-white, smooth, creamy cheese has a mild flavor. It is eaten for breakfast or snacks. Pictured is spinach topped with Baladi.
Basket cheeseoriginated in TurkeyMade from cow's milk, it is available fresh or dry. Fresh basket has no salt taste, while dry basket is mildly salty. Basket cheese gets its name from the way it is formed.
CharkassiyeA soft cheese
JameedJordanHard, dry laban made from goat or ewe's milk. Milk is kept in a fine woven cheesecloth to make a thick yogurt. Salt is added daily to thicken the yogurt even more and the outside of the yogurt filled cheesecloth is rinsed with water to allow any remaining whey to seep through. After a few days of salting the yogurt, it becomes very dense and it can be removed from the cheesecloth and shaped into round balls. Pictured is white Jameed in a shop front in Jerusalem.
Jibneh ArabiehArabian PeninsulaA traditional cheese in Middle East countries. It is particularly popular in the Arab States of the Persian Gulf. The cheese has an open texture and a mild taste similar to Feta but less salty.
Jibne BaidaArabic for white cheese, is a white hard cheese with a pronounced salty taste, often boiled before eating
KashkawanA type of yellow cheese made of sheep milk. In Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia and Romania, the term is often used to refer to all yellow cheeses.
Qishtais a heavy cream that is very popular in the Middle East. Traditionally, it is made by skimming the thickest part of the cream from whey. The product is used both as an ingredient in cooking and is mixed with honey to be eaten as an incredibly rich dessert. Rich Cow brand Kashta is a fresh, rich-tasting, cream product texture of which is smooth and thick. It has a sixty-day refrigerated shelf life.
LabnehSimilar to Greek yogurt, labneh is a strained yogurt product that is common in the Middle East and the Levant. Pictured is Labneh in olive oil
MajdouleA salty white cheese made up of thick strands of cheese braided together
Nabulsi cheeseNablusOne of a number of Palestinian white brined cheeses made in the Middle East. Its name denotes its place of origin, Nablus and it is well known throughout the West Bank and surrounding regions. It is also a major ingredient of the Arabian desserts Knafeh and Qatayef.
ShelalA salty white cheese made up of strands of cheese woven together
Surke or Shanklisha mature cheese made with spices and generally presented as balls of cheese covered in za'tar orchile powder; most often eaten as a starter dish with tomato, oil and sometimes onion
Syrian cheeseSyriaThere are different kinds of Syrian cheese. A few of the most common include Baladi and Charkassiye.

The Levant is a geographical region east of the Mediterranean Sea which includes the countries of Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Palestine and sometimes it includes Cyprus and the Turkish province of Hatay

Turkey

NameImageRegionDescription-
Abaza-
Gaziantep-
Seferihisar-
Arnavut-
Beyaz peynirA salty, white cheese made from unpasteurized sheep milk. The cheese has a slightly grainy appearance and is similar to Greek feta cheese.-
Çamurİzmir-
Çeçil ErzurumAlso known as Civil Peyniri
Çökelek
Çömlek PeyniriKayseri, Yozgat, SivasAlso known as
Dil Peyniri
Edirne
Çanakkale
-
HellimKuzey Kıbrıs
Kars GravyeriKars-
Kaşar
Keçi PeyniriA goat's milk cheese-
Kirli HanımAyvalık-
İzmir-
Küflü PeynirKonya, Ardahan-
Lor -
Malakan PeyniriKars
Mihaliç PeyniriBalıkesirAlso known as Kelle Peyniri or Manyas Peyniri
ObrukKaraman-
ÖrgüDiyarbakır-
SalamuraBingöl, Tokat-
Sayasİzmir-
Süzme Yoğurt
Karadeniz-
TulumErzincan, İzmir, Tunceli, Aydın
Van otlu peyniriVan

Yemen

NameImageRegionDescription
Yemeni cheeseTaizA local sheep-milk, smoked-cheese, handmade in the city of Taiz

North and Central America

Canada

NameImageRegionDescription
Allegretto cheeseMade in Abitibi, Quebec.A semi-soft, washed rind sheep's milk cheese.
Bleu BénédictinMade by the monks at the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, QuebecA semi-soft, whole milk blue cheese deeply veined with the Roquefort penicillium mold
Cheddar cheeseMost Canadian Cheddar is produced by a number of large companies in Ontario, though other provinces produce some and some smaller artisanal producers exist. The annual production is 120,000 tons. It is aged a minimum of three months, but much of it is held for much longer, up to 10 years.
Cheese curdsCheese curds are a key ingredient in poutine.
OkaOriginally manufactured by the Trappist monks, who are located in Oka, Quebec, CanadaA semi-soft washed rind cheese, Oka has a distinct flavour and aroma, and is still manufactured in Oka, although now by a commercial company.
PikaubaSaguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, QuebecA semi-firm cow's milk cheese, farmer made by hand, that is recognized by its fine orange rind and its soft, golden paste, strewn with small holes.

Costa Rica

NameImageRegionDescription
Palmito cheeseA popular fresh cheese from Costa Rica that resembles a knotted ball of string cheese
Turrialba cheeseTurrialba, Cartago ProvinceA salty young cheese made of cow's milk

El Salvador

NameImageRegionDescription
Cuajada
CremaA spreadable, unripened white cheese.
Enredo
Queto

Honduras

NameImageRegionDescription
CremaA spreadable, unripened white cheese.
Cuajada
Quesillo
Queijo seco

Mexico

NameImageRegionDescription
Adobera cheeseFrom western Mexico, most popular in Jalisco.Its name is taken from the similarity of its shape to adobe bricks. It is mild and slightly salty to taste. Young Adobera has a soft texture and can be crumbled or cubed. As the cheese matures, its texture becomes more creamy and it can no longer be crumbled. It melts well.
Añejo cheeseA firm, aged Mexican cheese traditionally made from skimmed goat's milk but most often available made from skimmed cow's milk. After it is made it is rolled in paprika to add additional flavor to its salty sharp flavor.
Asadero cheeseFirst made in Chihuahua and later Durango. Immigrants brought Asadero cheese making to the southwestern United States.Asadero cheese is a soft cheese that melts easily. It is usually made in the shape of a round tortilla. Often mistaken for Oaxaca cheese.
Chiapas cheeseA dry cream cheese with a crumbly texture that is formed into balls and often has string cheese wrapped around it.
Chihuahua cheeseFrom the state of Chihuahua.A soft white cheese available in braids, balls or rounds. Also known as queso menonita, after the Mennonite communities of northern Mexico that first produced it. Tastes similar to a mild white Cheddar or Monterey Jack and melts well.
Cotija cheeseNamed for the city Cotija in the state of Michoacán.Made from cow's milk, young Cotija is similar to Feta, while aged Cojita is more like Parmesan. It does not melt when heated.
Criollo cheeseA specialty of the region around Taxco, Guerrero.A grateable Mexican cheese similar to American-style Munster cheese
Lingallin
Oaxaca cheeseNamed after the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, where it was first madeA white, semihard stretched curd cheese from Mexico, similar to unaged Monterey Jack, but with a stringy Mozzarella-like texture.
Queso Crema
Queso de cuajo
Queso Fresco
Queso PanelaA white, fresh and smooth Mexican cheese of pasteurized cow's milk
RequesónA Mexican version of Ricotta that is used in salads, soups, cooked foods, dips and desserts. It is very mild and has a semi-sweet flavor. Itsb texture is soft, moist and slightly grainy.

Nicaragua

NameImageRegionDescription
Quesillo

United States

NameImageRegionDescription
BergenostNew YorkBrand name of a semi-soft cheese with a mild, smooth flavor and a subtle hint of sourness. Bergenost is a triple-cream, Norwegian-style butter cheese made by Yancey's Fancy of Corfu, New York using imported Norwegian cultures.
Brick cheeseWisconsinPrepared in brick-shaped form, the color ranges from pale yellow to white, and it has a sweet and mild flavor when young, and matures into a strong ripe cheese with age. It is medium-soft, crumbles easily and is somewhat sticky to the knife.
Cheese curdsUpper MidwestBest eaten within 24–48 hours of production and at room temperature. Fresh curds will often come in a bag and have a little whey in the bag. They are often high in moisture and salty and will likely squeak while you chew them.
After a couple days or after any refrigeration they can be "regenerated" with a couple seconds in a microwave, but they will not be the same or as fresh. They are good in an omelete or breaded and fried at this point. After a few days they will be like a young colby or cheddar.
Colby cheeseWisconsinKin to cheddar, but much milder. The curd is washed at production to rinse off the lactose. Bacteria do not have a chance to make the cheese more acidic as it ages, unlike cheddar. It melts well.
Colby-Jack cheeseWisconsinA marbled cheese composed of Colby and Monterey Jack that originates from the city of Colby, Wisconsin. It is often used in meat and cheese trays.
Colorado BlackieColoradoA cheese from the American West named for its black waxed rind.
Cream cheese
Creole cream cheeseNew Orleans, Louisiana
Cup Cheese
Farmer cheeseWisconsin
Hoop cheeseA cheese made only using milk
Humboldt FogCaliforniaA mold-ripened cheese with a central line of edible white ash much like Morbier
Liederkranz cheeseNew York-
Monterey JackCaliforniaAn American white, semi-hard cheese made using cow's milk. It is noted for its mild flavor and slight sweetness.
Muenster cheeseMild, semi-soft cow's milk cheese with a creamy texture and distinctive orange rind. Excellent for melting in sandwiches and burgers, and pairs well with light beers and fruits. A milder counterpart to the stronger French Munster.
Nacho cheese135pxTexasA generic name used to refer to a variety of processed cheese sauces flavored with peppers and spices, typically poured on top of nachos or served on their own as a dip for a variety of foods. Nacho cheese is also referred to as simply "queso."
Pepper jack cheeseA variety of Monterey Jack
Pinconning cheeseMichiganAn aged variety of Colby
Provel cheeseA white, processed cheese made of a blend of Cheddar, Swiss, and Provolone cheeses. Particularly popular in and around St Louis, MO.
Red HawkNorthern CaliforniaA soft, mildly salty cheese
String cheeseThe particular American variety of Mozzarella with a stringy texture
Teleme cheese
Cottage cheeseIt is a fresh cheese curd product with a mild flavor and soupy texture. It is drained, but not pressed, so some whey remains and the individual curds remain loose.

Oceania

Australia

NameImageRegionDescription
Tasty cheeseThe name-equivalent of cheddar cheese used in Australia and New Zealand, especially manufacturers and sellers.

South America

Argentina

NameImageRegionDescription
Cremoso cheeseA fresh cheese elaborated with cow's milk, with or without the addition of cream. It has its origin in Argentina, and derives from Italian cheeses with similar characteristics as Crescenza.
Criollo
Goya
ReggianitoPictured are rounds of Argentine Reggianito cheese, accompanied with bread.
Sardo
Chubut
Tandil
Mar del Plata
Tafí del Valle
Cuartirolo
Provoleta
Queso de Maquina

Bolivia

NameImageRegionDescription
Chaqueño
Menonita

Brazil

NameImageRegionDescription
CatupiryA soft, mild-tasting cheese that can be spread over toasts, crackers and bread buns or used in cooking. Because of its low level of acidity, catupiry has become an ingredient in various dishes. It is one of the most popular "requeijão" brands in Brazil.
MinasComes in four varieties, named queijos-de-minas frescal, meia-cura and curado. A fourth variety, branded queijo padrão has been developed more recently and can be found in nearly all supermarkets and grocery stores in Brazil.
Queijo coalhoA firm but very lightweight cheese produced in Northeastern Brazil
Queijo de Colôniaor Colony cheese.
Queijo Meia Cura
Queijo CanastraMade from raw cow's milk and has a mildly spicy, full bodied flavor
Queijo Cobocó
Queijo-do-ReinoA Brazilian semi-hard cheese, similar to the Dutch Edam cheese
Queijo do Serro
Queijo Manteiga
Queijo pratoA Brazilian soft cheese, similar to the Danish cheese danbo
RequeijãoIn Brazil, Requeijão is a type of cream cheese white in color. It has a mild taste and its consistency can vary from creamy solid to liquid.

Chile

NameImageRegionDescription
Chanco cheeseCow's milk cheese originally from the Chanco farm in Maule Region. Now it is produced all over south-central Chile, and represents almost 50% of Chilean cheese consumption.
PanquehueAndean Aconcagua regionA semi-soft cheese, it is one of the most popular cheeses in Chile, it is similar in taste to Tilsit and often has chives or red pepper flakes mixed in.
Renaico

Colombia

NameImageRegionDescription
Queso CampesinoAntioquia, Cundinamarca, Boyaca.is called Quesito too, fresh made on big wheels traditionally
Queso costeñoCaribbeanA kind of Queso Campesino with a high content of salt in order to be kept longer fresh under salt water
CuajadaDepartment of Cundinamarca and Boyacá, oriental mountainsis a kind of fresh done cheese with only one or few days of mature. Is the same kind as Quesillo. Comparable to Mozzarella is kept fresh in Banana leaves where it gets actually its typical form and texture
Queso PaipaPaipa is a city in Boyacá Department, with a high production of Holstein Milk.Made since colonial times, it is a semi-hard, semi-fat and semi-cured cheese.
Queso PeraA kind of mature Mozzarella specifically in a pressed form of a pear forms layers which give the special favorite taste. An industrial variation is filled with very sweet guave/guayaba marmalade
QuesilloIn Colombia, quesillo is a type of double cream cheese wrapped within a plantain leaf, made originally in the Tolima Department; the town of Guamo is most known for this dairy product.
Queso 7 cuerosFrom the Meta Department and the eastern plainssimilar to the Pera cheese. The cheese is made with rich in fat milk. In the process it is heated and stretched in a technique called "pasta hilada" creating threads that make layers called "cueros" which give the siete cueros cheese its characteristical texture.

Peru

NameImageRegionDescription
AllpachacaAyacuchoDifferent regional varieties, similar to Andean cheese.
Queso AndinoCajamarcaSmooth texture and mild flavor.
Queso frescoRegional version of the traditional fresh cheese, soft and white in color.

Uruguay

NameImageRegionDescription
ColoniaColoniaIt is a soft cheese with a hard rind, light yellow color and abundant eyes.
CuartiroloRipened, high moisture and fatty cheese. Soft, creamy, somewhat elastic consistency. Smooth, closed and uniform texture. Uniform yellowish-white colour. Slightly acid taste. Mild smell. Made from pasteurized milk.
DanboIt is a washed curd, ripened cheese, from standardised and pasteurized milk. A variation of Danish danbo cheese. It is a matured cheese, of medium moisture and fat. Semi-hard, elastic consistency. Compact, smooth, not grainy texture. Uniform yellowish white colour. Lactic, smooth, slightly salty, characteristic flavor. This cheese comes in blocks which are salted, and surface dried. vacuum packaged and stored for ripening.
SándwichProcessed mold cheese, specially made for the production of Sandwiches de miga.
TermalColonia Juan Gutiérrez, PaysandúIt is made using the salty waters of the Almirón Hot Springs. Made with whole cow's milk. Presentation: cylindrical in shape, approximately 1 kg, 10 cm in diameter, and 8 cm high, smooth and clean surface. Color: slightly light yellow.
YamandúIt was a type of Gouda cheese, with a firm, semi-hard paste, made with unpasteurized milk and with the addition of selected ferments. It ceased to be produced in 1980 due to changes in the sanitary requirement for pasteurization.
ZapicánMade with cow's milk, from 3 to 4 kg in weight. It has a firm consistency and texture, with some spherical eyes and a smooth but defined flavor. Used as cut cheese.

Venezuela

NameImageRegionDescription-
Guayanés cheeseGuayana RegionA soft, salty, white cheese.-
Queso crineja-
Queso de manoA type of soft, white cheese most commonly associated with Venezuelan cuisine. Pictured is a cachapa with queso de mano.-
Queso LlaneroAlso known as prairie cheese and queso de año.-
Queso PalmitaA soft, watery, fresh white cheese with big holes, produced from pasteurized milk. It is usually made in large circular containers 6 feet in diameter and four feet in height.-
Queso Parma de BarinitasQueso semiduro
Queso telitaA mild farmer's cheese that is packaged in liquid.-

Other

Some types of cheese were either developed in various locales independently, or are not actually cheese products. Examples include:
NameImageRegionDescription
Farmer cheeseVariousVarieties of which are made in most cultures with a strong dairy culture
Port wine cheeseAn orange- and red-colored cheese that prepared with alcoholic port wine as it is made
Smoked cheeseVariousA style of preparing any number of hard or semi-hard cheeses, using smoke or smoke flavoring. Pictured is smoked Gruyère cheese
Soy cheeseNot a dairy product, but a cheese analogue made from soybeans/soy protein. Pictured is soy cheese manufactured to the consistency of a cream cheese.
Rice cheeseAs with soy cheese, an analogue from rice/rice protein

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