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Cheddar -

Cheddar is a well-known cheese that originated in England and is used in a number of dishes. It is a versatile cheese and is known for having a thick consistency after melting, making it a great cheese for dips. Cheddar cheese is one of the top ingredients for a good mac and cheese, a cheese twist, or a cheeseburger.

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Stilton -

Stilton cheese is a crumbly variety of blue cheese that comes from England. This cheese is the key ingredient for making a perfect blue cheese sauce that pairs well with buffalo wings.

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Parmesan -

This popular Italian cheese, originally known as Parmigiano Reggiano, has been around for more than 900 years. This cheese is perfect for grating over a variety of pasta dishes. It's also a key ingredient for a good cheesy roast potato recipe.

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Ricotta -

Ricotta is a fresh Italian soft cheese. It can be eaten as a dessert cheese when added to a cheesecake or cannoli. But it makes a great filling for pasta like tortellini and ravioli. Spinach and ricotta are a particularly popular combination. 

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Feta -

Feta is a soft, crumbly cheese made from sheep’s milk. It is a very popular cheese in Greece. It is a key ingredient in the making of a Greek salad and simply can’t be substituted for another cheese.

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Gorgonzola -

This cheese is also known as Italian blue cheese. It is made in two varieties: gorgonzola piccante (spicy) and gorgonzola dolce (sweet). The soft and creamy cheese is paired well with pumpkin or butternut squash in a savory pie or pasta dish. 

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Mozzarella -

Mozzarella is classified as a soft, fresh, and unripened cheese. This Italian cheese is made from buffalo or cow's milk. Due to its high moisture, it is eaten shortly after it's made. Mozzarella is a key ingredient for a good pizza or caprese salad. 

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Burrata -

The name burrata comes from the Italian word butter (burro). It has a rich, creamy texture when sliced. Burrata is a great cheese to make a delicious bruschetta or a simple burrata salad with cherry tomatoes and olive oil.

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Monterey Jack -

This is a hard American cheese that was first brought to California by Franciscan monks from Mexico. This cheese is typically eaten when it's a month or two old. The flavor is mild and milky making it a great melting cheese for Mexican food such as quesadillas and enchiladas. 

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Emmental -

Emmental is often known as Swiss cheese as it originated in Switzerland. It is arguably their most famous export and is known for its iconic holes. Emmental is a key ingredient in making a good fondue. 

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Halloumi -

Halloumi cheese comes from Cyprus. It has a very salty flavor and is hard but easy to cut. Halloumi is mainly grilled or fried and drizzled with honey as a delicacy. It's a versatile cheese that can be used to prepare a variety of vegetarian dishes, like a halloumi burger.

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Brie -

Brie is one of the world’s favorite cheeses. This cheese is soft and mold-ripened. Brie has a white bloomy rind and a decadent, creamy texture. It is commonly eaten as an appetizer or as part of a cheese course paired with fruits and bread. It can be baked to create an even runnier texture for dipping bread. 

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Wensleydale -

Wensleydale is a crumbly cheese made from cow’s milk and is aged for up to 12 months. It is a mild, milky cheese with citrus flavors. Wensleydale is paired with sweeter products and is often eaten with Christmas fruitcake.

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Gouda -

Gouda is a cheeseboard favorite and is often paired with red wine. This hard cheese is named after a city in southern Holland. It is perfect for jalapeño poppers, sandwiches, frittatas, and quiches. 

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Pecorino -

Pecorino cheese is a hard-cooked Italian cheese made from sheep’s milk. It is made in two styles: dolce (sweet/mild) and maturo (mature). This cheese can be used instead of parmesan to grate over pasta, and is one of the main ingredients in the traditional pasta dish cacio e pepe.

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Gruyère -

This is a mountain cheese that gets its name from the Swiss market town of Guyères. This cheese is wonderful for melting in baked goods and fondue. It is amazing with eggs and makes great egg tarts.

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Camembert -

Camembert is a soft, mold-ripened cheese similar to brie. This cheese has intense vegetal and earthy notes to it. They are sold in thin round wooden poplar containers and can be baked in them as a whole. It is often baked or melted in croissants or sandwiches.

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Red Leicester -

Red Leicester cheese is compact but flaky, buttery and nutty. Annatto (a natural coloring derived from dried plant seeds) is added to give the cheese its red color. This cheese is perfect for mac and cheese, baked potatoes, or savory scones.

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Stracciatella -

Stracciatella is a soft, fresh cheese produced from Italian buffalo milk. It is essentially stretched mozzarella. Use it to top any pasta dish for extra creaminess and texture.

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Jarlsberg -

Jarlsberg has a mild, sweet, and nutty flavor. It is produced from cow's milk. This cheese is a staple in Norwegian sandwiches as it is a good melting cheese. It is best used for making cheese souffle and is also great for fondues. 

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Paneer -

Paneer is produced in India. This soft cheese is often used in vegetarian dishes as a meat substitute because it doesn’t melt. It is used to make many different curries and as a filling for pastries.

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Mascarpone -

Mascarpone cheese is a soft, unripened cheese. It's considered one of the richest cream cheeses, with 60-70% fat. This soft velvety cheese has a sweet, creamy flavor. It can be used as a spread or as an ingredient to thicken sauces. It's most commonly used in desserts such as tiramisu. 

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Manchego -

This cheese can only be made in the La Mancha region of Spain. It gets its name from the Manchega sheep breed whose rich milk is used to produce the cheese. It's a Spanish tapas favorite paired with serrano ham, olives, and bread.

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Provolone -

This cheese first originated in Southern Italy. It is a hard cow’s milk cheese that has a smooth texture and a mild smoky flavor. Provolone cheese is often used as a melting cheese making it suitable for sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, and Italian dishes. It's an unmissable ingredient in a veal parmigiana. 

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Edam -

Edam cheese is made in the Netherlands with milk from Dutch cows. Edam cheese is perfect for sandwiches or salads as it can be diced or shredded. 

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Goat’s cheese -

As the name says, this cheese is made from goat's milk. Goat cheese can be easier to digest as goat's milk has smaller fat molecules. This cheese is perfect on a Christmas cheeseboard. It is also complemented by grilled peaches and apricots. 

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Lincolnshire Poacher -

This cheese has a smooth, dense texture, and is matured for 14 to 16 months. This versatile cheese is perfect for making cauliflower cheese or amazing cheese scones.

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Cheshire -

Cheshire cheese was the most popular cheese in the late 18th century before cheddar and other imported cheese gained fame. This cheese has zesty and mineral notes. It is used in Chester pudding and Cheshire pork pie.

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Comté -

Comté cheese is made in the Franche- Comté region of eastern France, bordering Switzerland. It’s aged for 36 months and has a sweet, nutty, and savory flavor. It is perfect in a tart with pear and caramelized onions.

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Cornish Yarg -

Cornish Yarg was first produced 30 years ago by a farmer named Alan Gray, and gets its name from the spelling of Gray backward. This cheese is eaten in toasted sandwiches and is perfect on cheeseboards. It can also be used to make a good cheese and mushroom omelet. 

Sources: (GoodFood) (BBC Food)

See also: Get your chew on: The best recipes with cheese

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