Gourmet cheese in India is increasingly becoming less expensive, and more accessible to the common Indian population. This means the procurement issues that we once grappled with, no longer serve as boundaries to getting those artisan cheeses into our kitchens. But before we go cheese hunting, here's all we need to know about gourmet or artisan cheese.

First off, what is the difference between Gourmet & store-bought cheese?

The cheese you buy from supermarkets is mass-produced in an industry, and made of natural cheese with additions like emulsifiers, preservatives, extra salt, saturated vegetable oils and artificial food colours, to name a few. This means the cheese in your store-bought can is only part natural cheese, while the rest of it comprises artificial ingredients inserted to enhance the taste of the cheese.

Gourmet or artisan cheese, on the other hand, only makes use of natural ingredients like high-quality milk, enzymes and natural colours, and the cheese is usually made by hand with more care and extra steps to ensure the finest taste. It does not contain unhealthy chemicals or preservatives and tends to have a more pronounced, distinct taste than the standard salty version your tastebuds experience in the case of store-bought cheese.

Types of popular Gourmet cheese

While the world of gourmet cheese is a lot bigger than you'd expect, there are certain types that are more popular than the others. Now, bear in mind that the same types of cheeses can fall under the category of processed, store-bought cheese as well. The key difference lies in the way it was made, and gourmet cheeses usually have more specificities associated with the flavour, such as the natural surroundings of where the cheese was made leaving an imprint on the taste.

Broadly speaking, we have listed the 10 most popular types of cheese that you need to be familiar with before you venture down the gourmet way.

1. Cheddar Cheese

This English cheese from the town by the same name has a sharp, pungent and slightly earthy taste. A nice gourmet Cheddar will be a well-aged hard cheese, with a very pronounced, sharp flavour.

Best for: Crackers, Tacos, Nachos, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Cabernet Sauvignon

gourmet-cheese-india_cheddar

Image Courtesy: The Splendid Table

2. Mozzarella Cheese

Arguably the most well-known mention on this list, this classic Italian cheese is famous due to its widespread usage on pizza. It comes with a soft, moist texture and boasts of a milky, yummy flavour that's easy on the tongue.

Best for: Pizza, Pasta, Caprese Salad

gourmet-cheese-india_mozzarella

Image Courtesy: Golden Age Cheese

3. Gouda Cheese

Originally hailing from a town by the same name in the Netherlands, the texture and taste of a gourmet Gouda cheese will depend on how long it's been aged. Younger Gouda cheese tends to be mild, soft with an almost sweet taste and texture, while the more aged ones are harder, stronger and darker with a nutty and buttery taste.

Best for: Mac and Cheese, Cheesy Soups, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Many Types Of Wine

gourmet-cheese-india_gouda

Image Courtesy: The Dutchman's Cheese Farm

4. Brie Cheese

Brie is a soft, stinky cheese with an origin story going back to a region by the same name in France. It comes with an outer rind of white mould, with a creamy, gooey and delicious cheese inside. The rind has a bitter, crumbly texture and it is usually recommended that you let your Brie cheese sit out of the refrigerator for an hour, till it's runny and creamy enough to be consumed.

Best for: Fruits, Crackers, Fruity Red Wines

gourmet-cheese-india_brie

Image Courtesy: Wikipedia

5. Parmigiano-Reggiano

If you've heard of Parmesan cheese, that one is usually the imitation of Parmigiano-Reggiano, referred to as the "King of Cheeses" by Italians. It's a hard, dry cheese made from skimmed cow's milk and comes with a rich, nutty and savoury taste, and a gritty texture.

Best for: Pasta, Soup, Risotto, Salads, Champagne, Crisp White Wine or Sparkling Wine

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Image Courtesy: CNBC

6. Swiss Cheese

This is the American version of the original Swiss cheese named Emmental. Swiss cheese is a mild cheese with a relatively firm texture, and a light, sweet, and nutty taste. This variety is renowned for its appearance which comprises a pale yellow colour, and large holes referred to as the eyes of the cheese.

Best for: Sandwiches, Casserole Pastas, Pretzels, Fondues, Pinot Noir, Merlot

gourmet-cheese-india_swiss

Image Courtesy: The Jakarta Post

7. Feta Cheese

Made from sheep or goat milk in Greece, Feta is a crumbly cheese that has a distinctly tangy, rich and slightly salty flavour. The more aged your Feta cheese is, the greater is the crumbliness or peppery texture of the cheese. The ones made from Sheep's milk is more buttery in taste while the ones prepared with goat milk is harder in texture and milder in flavour.

Best for: Pizza, Sandwich, Stuffings, Mashed Potatoes, Sauvignon Blanc

gourmet-cheese-india_feta

Image Courtesy: Wikipedia

8. Gruyere

This cheese comes originally from Switzerland, and the taste of the cheese depends on how long it's been aged. The younger versions of Gruyere cheese are usually creamy and nutty, while the older ones have a more earthy, and complex taste and a slightly grainy texture with small cracks.

Best for: Fondues, Baked dishes, French Onion Soup, Pastas, Crispy White Wine

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Image Courtesy: The Spruce Eats

9. Monterey Jack

This popular cheese hails from California and comes with a buttery taste and a semi-soft texture. The taste is milder when the cheese is young, and the more it ages, the sharper the flavours and the drier the texture.

Best for: Substitute for Parmesan in Pasta, Crackers, Cheesy Sauces, Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel

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Image Courtesy: Wikipedia

10. Grana Padano

Originating in the Po river valley in Northern Italy, the first half of the name of this cheese literally translates to "grainy" in English. So naturally, it has a fine, grainy texture and an intensely sweet flavour. The more this cheese ages, the more savoury the taste tends to get, and the texture becomes more crumbly.

Best for: Pasta Grating, Cheese Board, Chianti Red Wine

gourmet-cheese-india_grana_padano

Image Courtesy: The Spruce Eats

Gourmet Cheese In India

The notion of an artisan or gourmet cheese in India is on a steep incline, with several artisan cheesemakers located across the many nooks of the country. Some of the homegrown artisan cheeses you need to try are Himalayan Cheese, Kalimpong Cheese, Kase, Chhurpi, Bandel Cheese, Vallambrosa Cheese, and La Ferme Cheese.

It ain't easy, being cheesy!

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