Swiss Cheese

Among various grades of hard cheese, Swiss is deservedly very popular. He has a special, seasoned character. There is no sharpness, excessive salinity or sweetness – in a word, a real classic. Since the end of the 18 century and to this day, cheese has become the main export product of Switzerland.

Swiss cheese is made from pasteurized or raw milk. It differs, for example, from French in that it is hard and semi-solid while the French variety is only soft.

There are different varieties of Swiss, depending on the cantonal (region) in which they are made. The most popular varieties are made in several regions and other countries, for example, Russia.

Varieties of cheese

All varieties of cheese are divided by ripening. They are: extra hard, solid, semi-solid. Technological features are caused by the need to make the storage of the product as long as possible.

Hard varieties

The most popular is the Gruyere variety. It is named after the place of the same name. It differs in that there are no holes in it at all. Has a nutty-fruit flavor. To make it, milk is poured into a special container with a volume of up to 450 liters and heated to a certain temperature. Then they wait until it cools down, they heat it again and select the cheese, which will have to mature in time and under special conditions.

Swiss Alp Bellew is a cheese made from 6% fat cow’s milk. It has a dense homogeneous structure, a spicy crust and a wonderful smell of alpine herbs. The product does not include lactose. The ripening period is XNUMX months. Great as a quick snack or as a component of cheese slices.

Mont Vully is another hard variety. It has an interesting taste and a specific crust. As the product matures, the crust is wiped with a special sponge, which is moistened with pomace of red wine “Pina noir”. Actually, it is customary to use it with wine of this type.

Semi hard varieties

Tilsiter, produced in the canton of Thurgau, has an unusually delicate taste. It is light yellow in color. Ripening in duration – from three to five months. It goes well with rye bread and dark beers, salads, potatoes. Complements and makes memorable the taste of sauces or just sandwiches.

“Appenzeller” – called the most odorous in the world. Spicy components are revealed the stronger, the longer the product ripening period, and in this case it is from three to 8 months. It is made only from freshly milked milk. Pairs well with pasta in the form of a cheese ball.

“Tete de Moine” – this cheese is made according to the old recipe of Belle Abbey. It is prepared from whole cow’s milk, and, moreover, exclusively from summer milk yields. A distinctive feature of this cheese is an extraordinary savory note: a combination of light sharpness with a slightly distinguishable sweetness. The fat content of this cheese is 51%. It has a dense texture and a brown crust. The maturation of the product takes place within 75 days on spruce boards. All this time it is rubbed with a salt solution with beneficial bacteria.

“Raclette” – has a heavy, silty smell and a delicate oily structure. This cheese is for everybody. Someone will like it very much, and someone, primarily because of the smell, will give their preference to another.

Extra hard cheeses

Category of cheeses for true connoisseurs of taste. There are many of them, but the most famous are:

“Sbrinz” – is considered almost the oldest variety. His homeland is Central Switzerland. The basis for the manufacture of the product is the milk of brown cows. It has a fat content of 45% and a golden crust. The ripening period is long: from eighteen to thirty-six months. It has a very hard, brittle texture. Literally melts in your mouth. With its excellent aroma, pizza, cider, and wine are excellently used.

Hobelkese is a cheese produced in Bern. It has a very dense structure. Very pleasant to the taste. Before eating, it is recommended to carefully cut into thin pieces.

In the canton of Emma there is a valley of the same name. It is considered the birthplace of Emmental cheese, which is very popular all over the world. It has a spicy, colorful taste. The feature of the product is big holes. This variety is made not only in Switzerland, but also in Russia and a number of other countries.

Well-known and appreciated by gourmets from around the world and cheese “Blushatel.” Its distinctive feature is blue mold. Due to the fact that the product has a salty taste, someone may not like it.

Nutritional value of the product

The best dishes using cheese

Almost the entire national cuisine of Switzerland is based on the use of cheeses in dishes. Consider the most famous of them, because the recipes for their preparation are not very complicated, the main thing is to have all the ingredients.

Gruyere is great for onion soup. “Raclette” is the basis for preparing the national dish of the same name. To do this, the cheese is placed in a special oven, rakletnitsa. You need to place at least half of the head there – with a cut to the warm part. When the cheese begins to melt, it is scraped off with a special roquelette knife and placed on a plate. This dish is especially popular in ski resorts. “Sbrinz” is an indispensable component in the preparation of pastas, risotto and pizza.

Any hard cheese is well suited for the final chord in the preparation of such a dish, as, for example, “Viennese Potatoes”. When potatoes with finely chopped meat are already baked in the oven, sprinkle with grated cheese on top of it, and after a couple of minutes you can already reach it.

In general, the cheese taste is felt in almost all Swiss dishes, whether it is: casseroles, pies, soups, soufflé or batter. Moreover, all the most exquisite dishes are essentially a prototype of simple peasant food that was consumed by peasants, especially shepherds: cheese and bread.

How is Swiss cheese useful?

The secret of the benefits of Swiss cheese lies in the fact that it has a considerable amount of vitamins and minerals. These products contain a lot of phosphorus, which is extremely important for the formation and strengthening of teeth and bones in the human body. This property of cheese will be appreciated by parents with children and the elderly.

Another positive factor is the abundance of calcium. As you know, it makes strong bones, teeth and nails. Swiss cheeses based on cow’s milk from the Alpine valleys also contain a large amount of vitamin A, which is important for good vision, healthy skin and mucous membranes.

Vitamins of group B, which are also found in these products, will help get rid of the effects of stress and normalize the nervous system. Among other things, they have beneficial effects on insomnia and body fatigue.

Vitamin D is also contained, which means that a person who is saturated with such a product reduces the risk of the appearance and development of such a disease as “osteoporosis”.

Present in Swiss cheese varieties, also, vitamin E. It is very necessary for the health of human skin.

In addition to vitamins, Swiss cheese contains a large amount of potassium and magnesium. These two components not only help to normalize the functioning of the nervous system, but also in every way contribute to the improvement of many metabolic processes in our body.

When cheese is contraindicated

Swiss cheese may not benefit those people who have an individual intolerance to this product. In general, doctors say that in limited doses, cheeses will not damage even with a peptic ulcer, as well as gastritis and colitis with high acidity.

We must not forget that these products have a fairly high calorie content. It is very important to know people who are overweight, strictly follow diets. Do not get involved in cheeses and those who have obesity or blood contains high cholesterol.

The final part

Swiss cheese is one of the most delicious and exquisite products that exist on earth. Some varieties cost quite a lot. Unfortunately, no one is insured against buying a fake, especially if the goods are purchased not in their homeland. Therefore, it is better to purchase this great product from a trusted and reliable supplier. Analyzing all the pros and cons of whether or not to buy this dairy product, there are many more advantages. Swiss cheese is always a sign of good taste and wealth. However, everyone can afford a little delicacy to celebrate a holiday or a memorable date.