List of blue cheeses

Blue cheese is a general term used to describe cheese that has been made with cultures of the mold Penicillium, giving it spots or veins of blue, blue-gray or blue-green mold throughout the cheese. The flavor profiles of blue cheeses can vary greatly, but they are typically characterized by their strong flavors and rich, creamy textures.

History

The process of making blue cheese is believed to have been discovered by accident, when cheeses were stored in natural temperatures and moisture-controlled caves, which happen to be favorable environments for many varieties of harmless mold. The earliest blue cheeses were likely produced in the Roquefort region of France in about 79 AD.

Production

Blue cheese is made from cow's milk, sheep's milk, or goat's milk. During the cheese-making process, cultures of Penicillium roqueforti or Penicillium glaucum are added. The cheese is then aged in a temperature-controlled environment such as a cave.

Types of Blue Cheese

Roquefort

Roquefort is a sheep milk cheese from the south of France, and together with Gorgonzola and Stilton, is one of the world's best known blue cheeses.

Gorgonzola

Gorgonzola is a veined Italian blue cheese, made from unskimmed cow's milk. It can be buttery or firm, crumbly and quite salty, with a 'bite' from its blue veining.

Stilton

Stilton is an English cheese, produced in two varieties: the well-known blue and the lesser-known white. Both have been granted the status of a protected designation of origin by the European Commission.

Danish Blue

Danish Blue is a semi-soft blue-veined cheese, made from cow's milk. It has a creamy and crumbly texture and a mild and slightly sweet flavor.

Bleu d'Auvergne

Bleu d'Auvergne is a French blue cheese, named for its place of origin in the Auvergne region of south-central France. It is made from cow's milk, and is one of the cheeses granted the Appellation d'origine contrôlée from the French government.

See Also

• Cheese
• Penicillium
• Roquefort
• Gorgonzola
• Stilton
• Danish Blue
• Bleu d'Auvergne

This is a non-exhaustive food and drink related list.

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