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Cheese Varieties Glossary
Asiago
Is a Northern Italian cow’s milk cheese that’s smooth and soft when young (3-8 months) with sweet nutty flavor. Dries as it ages and is better for grating.
Caciocavallo
Gourd shaped stretched curd cheese made of cow’s milk. Texture and flavor are similar to provolone. Great melting cheese when young and drier and sharper as it ages.
Chèvre or Goat Cheese
Comes in many styles but for pizza I recommend one that is soft but slightly crumbly. Flavors are sharp and tangy.
Crescenza
Soft ripened cow’s milk fresh cheese. Aged only 2-3 weeks. Best to use immediately. It’s rich, creamy, soft and spreadable at room temperature. Blends well with herbs.
Dry Jack
American hard cow’s milk cheese. Good for grating and has sweet and nutty flavors.
Fontina
Is an Italian semi-firm cow’s milk cheese that melts well. It’s mild and nutty with slightly herbaceous flavors.
Fresh Mozzarella
Cow’s milk, semi-soft, high moisture, mild milky flavors.
Fromage Blanc
The name means “fresh cheese” or “white cheese” in French. It’s a creamy soft cheese made with whole or skimmed milk and cream.
Gouda
Is a Dutch semi-hard, cow’s milk cheese. It’s an excellent melting cheese with sweet fruity flavors. Intensifies as it ages.
Grana Padano
Italian Cheese made from cow’s milk. It’s an excellent grating and melting cheese. It is similar to Parmigiano-Reggiano but has been aged for less time and has a more delicate flavor. Is less expensive than Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Gruyere
Is a Swiss semi-soft, cow’s milk that’s creamy and milky when young. It’s an excellent melting cheese and becomes earthy with sometimes-musty aromas as it ages.
Parmigiano-Reggiano
Is an Italian cow’s milk hard cheese that has a hard granular texture that’s excellent for grating. Aromatic, rich nutty, and sharp flavors.
Pecorino
Is the name of a family of hard Italian cheeses made from ewe’s milk. The more matured cheeses are harder but still crumbly in texture and have decidedly buttery and nutty flavors. Is excellent for grating.
Provolone
Domestic or Imported semi-hard stretched curd cheese made from cow’s milk. Dolce is the youngest aged 2-3 months. It’s an excellent melting cheese with a mild, sweet taste. Provolone Piccante is older aged 6-months to 2-years and is dry with a sharper flavor.
Pt. Reyes Original Blue
American, all natural farmstead cow’s milk. Firm, creamy with sharp, piquant flavors.
Smoked Mozzarella
Mozzarella that’s been specially treated by smoke curing. It has a light golden brown outer shell and is lightly salted. Its low moisture content makes it ideal for melting.
Taleggio
Northern Italian cow’s milk washed rind cheese that is semi-soft with an oozing texture. Rich buttery flavors, strong sometimes-pungent aroma.


