Ireland is known for its amazing selection of specialty cheeses. Unlike some areas of the world, cheese making is still more of a local, small batch process, where farmers produce their own cheeses with family recipes that have been passed down for generations.
With so many options in specialty cheeses, it can be difficult to find the right type of cheese for the event or occasion. However, when combined with different selections of chutney, biscuits, crackers, and even a good crusty bread a cheese tray or layered cheese cake is a perfect addition to any party, event, or gathering.
Buttery and Smooth
One of the classic types of buttery, smooth, and slightly butterscotch flavoured cheeses in Coolea. The more this cheese matures, the more the butterscotch flavour is noticed with a gouda-like firmness and color.
Another softer cheese is Gubbeen. Produced in West Cork, this cheese is made from cow’s milk and aged for one or two months after brining. It tastes of butter and hazelnuts, making it an excellent choice for a dessert cheese or on any types of bread or crackers.
Savory and Sharp
When it comes to Irish specialty cheeses, goat cheeses are always popular. These semi-hard cheeses leave a slight tang and come with a variety of different herbs and spices for additional flavour.
Irish mature cheddar cheese offers the distinctive, sharp cheddar taste that is ideal on a cheese plate or served with your favourite foods. For another classic option, choose Cashel Blue, offering a creamy, buttery cheese with the light but distinctive taste of blue cheese. This is a wonderful cheese option for a tray as the blue veins throughout the cheese make it stand out and add colour. For even more blue cheese flavour, step up the aged Crozier Blue.
