December 01, 2004
Name-Controlled Cheeses
Certain cheeses are so great and such a pride to their countries that their production and quality are controlled by government agencies. As a general rule, the following are defined by law for particular kinds of cheeses:
- breed of animal that provides the milk for the cheese
- areas of milk origin and cheese production
- cheesemaking process and technique (including aging process)
- type of cheese - these are very strict guidelines defining structure of cheese, fat content, whether the cheese has a rind, etc.
- physical attributes of the cheese - shape, size, etc.
- specific attributes unique to the cheese - aroma, flavor, color, etc.
Below I am listing controlled cheeses by country. I will update this list as I get to try the cheeses listed. Yum!
Country: France
Governing agency: Appellation d'Origine Controlee
- Abondance
- Beaufort
- Bleu d'Auvergne
- Bleu de Gex-Haut-Jura
- Brie de Meaux
- Brie de Melun (illegal in the US)
- Camembert de Normandie (illegal in the US)
- Chabichou du Pitou
- Chaource
- Comte
- Crottin de Chavignol
- Epoisses de Bourgogne
- Fourme d'Ambert
- Fourme du Cantal, also called Cantal de Salers
- Langres (illegal in the US)
- Laguiole
- Livarot
- Maroilles
- Munster
- Neufchatel
- Ossau-Iraty Brebis Pyrenees
- Picodon de l'Ardeche (illegal in the US)
- Picodon de la Drome (illegal in the US)
- Pont-l'Eveque
- Pouligny-Saint-Pierre
- Reblechon
- Roquefort
- Saint-Nectaire
- Sainte-Maure de Touraine
- Salers
- Selles-sur-Cher
- Vacherin du Haut-Doubs, also known as Vacherin Mont d'Or (illegal in the US)
Country: Italy
Governing agency: Denominazione di Origine Controllata
- Asiago
- Bra
- Caciocavallo
- Canestrato Pugliese
- Casciotta d'Urbino
- Castelmagno
- Fiore Sardo
- Fontina d'Aosta
- Formai de Mut
- Gorgonzola
- Grana Padano
- Montasio
- Mozzarella di bufala
- Murazzano
- Parmigiano-Reggiano
- Pecorino Romano
- Pecorino Sardo
- Pecorino Siciliano
- Pecorino Toscano
- Pressato
- Provolone
- Ragusano
- Raschera
- Robiola di Roccaverano
- Taleggio
- Toma
Country: Spain
Governing agency: Quesos con Denominacion de Origen
- Cabrales
- Cantabria
- Idiazabal
- La Serena
- Manchego
- Mahon
- Quesos de Liebana, includes Ahumado de Aliva, Pido, Picon, and Quesuco
- Roncal
- Tetilla
- Zamorano
Country: Switzerland
Governing agency: ?
- Appenzell
- Emmentaler
- Gruyere
- Hard mountain cheeses: Sbrinz, Spalen, Saanen
- Raclette cheeses: Bagnes, Conches, Gomser, Orsieres
- Sapsago (also known as Glarner Schabzieger)
- Swiss Tilsit (also known as Royalp)
- Tete de Moine (also known as Bellelay)
- Vacherin Fribourgeois
- Vacherin Mont d'Or
Country: England
Governing agency: ?
- Stilton
Posted by maggie at December 1, 2004 12:00 AM