The taste of goat cheese can depend on the type of food a goat ate before being milked.
Made from the milk of goats, goat cheese can come in a wide variety of forms. Sometimes known as chevre, meaning goat in French, it can be either firm or semi-firm and have varying textures. As a result of using goats' milk, the cheese takes on a strong tangy flavor. Goat cheese is common in areas where refrigeration is limited like the Mediterranean and Africa.
Goat cheese is normally manufactured by warming goat milk and mixing in an enzyme known as rennet. The reaction between the two causes the milk to curdle. The milk curds are then drained and pressed into cheesecloth. The cloths are then hanged for a number of days to drain and cure before being ready for consumption.
Halloumi
Halloumi is a type of firm cheese that originated from the island country of Cyprus. It is made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk; sometimes it can contain cow's milk. It is a type of stretched curd cheese with a high melting point. Even after being fried or grilled, it can hold its shape. Halloumi has a texture that is similar to mozzarella cheese and is often garnished with mint leaves.
Castelo Branco
Castelo Branco cheese is a Portuguese soft cheese that is made from the milk of a goat or sheep. Named after the city it's made in, the cheese takes 40 days to mature with a fat content of 45 to 50 percent. During the coagulation process of the milk, thistles from the cardoon plant are mixed in. Castelo Branco has an off-white appearance with a spicy flavor to it and a very intense smell.
Chabis de Gatine
Chabis is a soft cheese originating from France. As the cheese ages, it becomes firmer and the taste becomes more pungent. Chabis is made without any heating or pressing and is formed into the shape of small discs. It is typical for Chabis to develop a whitish coat of mold that is edible and should cause no ill effects.
It is suggested that this type of cheese should be eaten when it's semi-dry, meaning the outer layer dry while the inner part of the cheese has the consistency of pât .
Feta
Feta is a soft Greek cheese that is white in color and has a slight sour taste to it. Feta is made through a two-month maturation process by placing the curds in a brine. This period allows it to develop its taste and aroma. The cheese has a salty flavor to it as a result of the maturation process. Feta has a high melting point and is typically used in salads.
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