Cheese makes everything better, especially if you’re a cheese lover. It goes well with a variety of dishes, and some of them are perfect on their own. However, not all cheeses are crafted equally in taste and quality.
Artisan cheese is superior in many ways. It’s handmade using decades of perfected cheesemaking techniques. These practices are passed down from further generations, making cheese more special.
For cheese lovers out there, trying artisan cheese can make you fall in love with it, and here are some reasons why:
- Made With High-Quality Natural Ingredients
Artisan cheese is made with high-quality, all-natural ingredients. The taste and aroma vary depending on the type of milk and the bacteria used for fermentation. For instance, some types of blue cheese are fermented with penicillium, which makes the mold safe to eat.
Compared to store-bought industrial cheese, artisan cheese is created in small batches. There’s no compromise in quality because cheese makers ensure accurate measurements of ingredients. The only disadvantage of loving artisan cheese is it can be hard to find. However, technology has made cheese shopping easy because you may order cheese online UK or look for a physical artisan cheese shop near you.
Due to high-quality fresh milk and natural enzymes, artisan cheese has an authentic color and aroma. Unlike mass-produced cheese, there are no added preservatives or artificial coloring. Everything is organic as it should be.
- Great For Scrumptious Dishes
Artisan cheese is popular among the fanciest gourmet dishes you can find. Because gourmet restaurants are committed to quality, using artisan cheese is the way to go. Yet today, you no longer have to eat in a fancy restaurant to enjoy high-quality cheese. You can cook and prepare these dishes in the comfort of your home.
Cheese is very versatile. You can eat them as is, mix them with salad, cook them with pasta, and even prepare a delicious dessert. Feta, mozzarella, and blue cheese are popular salad ingredients. They make the salad dressing taste richer. For pasta, parmesan and pecorino cheese are known in famous Italian dishes like fettuccine alfredo, carbonara, and cacio e pepe.
On the other hand, soft and fresh ones like cream cheese and mascarpone are great for desserts like cheesecake and tiramisu. You may also use them to make cake frosting or bread filling. The possibilities are almost endless due to its flexibility as an ingredient.
- Carefully Handmade To Perfection
Artisan cheese is carefully handmade to perfection. Most cheese makers around Europe are preserving the centuries-old tradition of cheesemaking. They avoid using machines in the process because they may alter the results. Instead, everything is made solely by hand, like a precious work of art.
Due to the lack of mechanical processes, cheesemaking may take longer, especially for hard cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino-Romano, provolone, and burrata. Some cheese may take longer than 24 months to ferment. Thus, when buying old cheese, it’s best to source it from known artisan cheese makers to ensure they’re authentic.
- Richer Taste Than Industrial-Made
Artisan cheese is incomparable to processed cheese in terms of richness and aroma. The rich taste of artisan cheese comes from the perfected cheesemaking process of meticulous attention to detail. Cheesemaking is a unique form of art that you can eat.
One thing that makes people turn away from artisan cheese is the pungent aroma, especially moldy cheese. However, some reviews from food enthusiasts prove that some cheeses don’t taste as they smell. For example, Roquefort cheese may ‘stink,’ but its taste isn’t too tangy. Some say its flavor is less rich than its aroma. Therefore, one shouldn’t fear trying stinky cheese as it could be the best cheese you’ve yet to try.
- Better Nutritional Benefits
Some of the misconceptions about cheese are that it makes you fat and unhealthy. However, none of these are entirely true because artisan cheese has many nutritional benefits. Being made from milk makes cheese rich in calcium, essential for bone health, wound healing, and maintaining healthy blood pressure.
Aside from calcium, artisan cheese is mainly known for being rich in healthy enzymes that help metabolism. Some cheeses like mozzarella and gouda have probiotics that can boost the immune system. So, the next time someone’s telling you you’re eating too much cheese, tell them you’re only taking good care of your health.
- Perfect For Special Occasions
An artisan cheeseboard is perfect for special occasions like family gatherings during Thanksgiving and the holidays. Hard cheese, like gouda, is ideal for eating on its own. Meanwhile, softer or stronger cheeses are best served with crackers or bread as a palate cleanser.
Preparing an artisan cheeseboard can make your celebrations fancier. You can never go wrong with serving high-quality cheese to your guests, especially if they’re cheese lovers. Hence, if you’re thinking of adding something unique for your next gathering, serve some artisan cheese.
Conclusion
If you haven’t tried artisan cheese, now is the perfect time to try it yourself. Its richness and authenticity in flavor and aroma are incomparable and might leave you wanting more.