A Guide To Great Italian Cheeses

By Jack Hanley

Many cheeses are originated from Italy and they are imported all over the world. Cheese making is considered to be an art and many villagers still make this their livelihood. There are several varieties and styles of cheese and many different flavors to impress any palette. The distinct flavors of Italian cheeses make them very popular around the world.

Refrigeration was not available in the early years of cheese making. The villagers were very creative and used caves to store and age the cheese. The caves stayed at a constant temperature that was perfect for this process. Very few ingredients are needed to manufacture cheese and many villagers became cheese artisans.

Milk is a necessary ingredient in making cheese. Farmers use the milk from goats and sheep to make certain types of cheese and others used buffalo milk. Cows are very valuable because they provide the milk that is needed for many types of cheeses and their meat is also used in many Italian dishes.

The most popular cheese import from Italy is mozzarella. This type of cheese is made from cows milk and comes in two forms. True mozzarella cheese is stored in water and is shaped in a ball form. It is truly fresh and by storing it in water, it keeps its freshness. The second type is a mass produced form that is usually shredded or in blocks. Mozzarella is delicious on pizza and in many different Italian dishes.

If you enjoy a mild, smoky cheese flavor, Provolone is a great choice for you. This particular cheese is usually aged for up to a year and it is said that the more yellow its color, the more flavor it possesses. Provolone is usually used on sandwiches in slices.

Ricotta cheese is a mixture of different types of cheese whey that is recooked to form a grainy mixture. This creamy type of cheese is unique because it is used in sweet dishes, as well as bolder dishes such as Lasagna and Rigatoni. It is also an ingredient used in classic style cheesecake.

Another cheese that is made from cows milk is Asiago. It is usually aged for up to a year and can be shredded or used as a table cheese. It is also really good in Italian dishes and in risotto soups. It is best when served fresh and tastes really good when it is grated.

We are thankful to Italy for providing us with some of the best cheeses in the world. Can you imagine a pizza without mozzarella cheese? These cheeses are an important part of our diets and they also taste wonderful. Cheese is a healthy food and it also provides a distinctive flavor to our dishes - 30211

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