Swiss Cheese

Swiss cheese is the general name for numerous tpyes of cheese that were initially prepared in Switzerland. It is also known as Emmental. Swiss cheese is made from cow’s milk. It is lightly flavoured, sweet and nutty. Swiss cheese is known for being glossy, light or pale yellow, and having large holes in it which is a result of carbon dioxide released during the process of maturation. So basically the gas bubbles from the carbon dioxide produces the holes in the cheese. The holes in Swiss cheese are known as ‘eyes’.

Types of Swiss Cheese

1. Baby Swiss – This type of swiss cheese is of light yellow colour, and has a soft, smooth texture with small holes, or eyes and is made from whole cow's milk. The flavor is mild, buttery, creamy and a bit sweet.

2. Comte – This Swiss cheese is a type of Gruyere cheese. The full name is really Gruyere de Comte. It is a circular cheese with small round holes; it is dark in colour with a tough texture and has a yellowish interior. The aging process is longer than that of the Swiss Gruyere cheese. Comte is a buttery, tangy cheese and has a sweet, fruit-like flavor.

3. Tete de Moine – This is made from enriched summer milk, the inside of the cheese is hard and creamy to yellow in colour and darkens depending on the aging process. It has a sweet and tangy flavour with a taste of nuts. It is also the strongest of the Swiss Cheeses.

4. Raclette – this cheese is made from cow's milk that is heated under a hot grill. The heat intensifies the full, nutty and somewhat fruity aroma of Raclette. When grilled, the outer layer becomes crunchy and has a delightfully savory flavor.

5. Jarlsberg – This type of cheese is from Norway. It is made from cow’s milk and is rich and creamy and a bit sweet.

6. Blarney - Blarney Irish Castle Cheese is a natural, partially soft semi-skimmed cheese somewhat like young Gouda. It is aged for at least 3 months.