Did you know that January 20^th is Cheese Lovers Day? I’ve been wanting to write something about cheese for a while and this week just seemed perfect.

So many cheese fans out there! I mean, let’s face it, who doesn’t love cheese? It goes great with literally anything, and can be had for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Also, I don’t know about you, but I am a fan of all cheese; whether it’s goat, cow or sheep, they all taste delicious!

I have often wondered however, why they taste so different and why their textures vary so much from one another. Initially, I assumed that it was down to how they were processed, but actually, did you know that the varying flavours and textures are due to each animals’ eating habits?

As someone who looooves goat’s cheese, this had me a little worried, because I’d always been told that goats eat anything and everything, so wouldn’t that compromise the quality of their cheese? Fortunately, I found out that this is not actually the case.  In fact, when it comes to grazing, goats tend to seek out the sweetest and most tender leaves from high trees, which result in a more acidic and vibrant flavour. Goats cheese is also known to have the least amount of fat in comparison to other types of cheese, and goes great in salads and sandwiches.

Cows however, graze primarily on the ground, and feed on grass, often ingesting some soil in the process. It is believed that this is why cow’s cheese has an ‘earthier’ flavour. Also, since most soils vary from one place to another, so too will the flavour of the cows’ cheese. The colour of cow cheese is also more yellow than white, due to the carotene found in most grasses. Unlike goats’ cheese, cows’ cheese has a much higher fat content, and therefore works great as a topping for many dishes.  They are full of flavour, and taste delicious when melted.

Like cows, sheep also feed on grass. Unlike cows however, they will only eat the tops, and rarely ever ingest any soil. In fact, if a grazing herd is left on a filed for an extended period of time, the field will eventually be left with a freshly mowed look. Sheep cheese has the highest fat content, and due to their feeding preferences, their product tends to be rich and buttery, but also milder in flavour, and therefore perhaps a better option for those who are not too fond of pungent cheesy flavours.

There are in fact several types of cheese on the market, and something for everyone.  The only advice I can offer here is to always go for a fresh option.  Do not buy packaged, pre-grated cheese, as those tend to have other processed ingredients mixed into them and don’t taste nearly as good.

So, there you have it guys; now that you have a little more intel, I’m sure you’ll be thinking a little more when putting together your next cheeseboard!

Check out yufeed for some great cheesy recipes! And stay tuned for our cheeseboard blog post!