2021’s Best Cities for Cheese Lovers

The U.S. ranks second in the world in terms of cheese consumption. Where does America’s love of cheese come from?

Americans love cheese because of the flavor it provides. It also provides a lot of protein and other nutrients our bodies need. It is also something that can be a snack or added to meals.

After eating cheese the fat releases endorphins which are known to reduce stress and promote happy feelings.

Why is cheese especially popular during the pandemic?

Part of the reason cheese consumption has gone up during the pandemic is that people are eating at home. more. Meals such as mac and cheese are easy to make and provide essential nutrients. Pizza is convenient and can be delivered directly to people’s homes. This has helped with increasing cheese sales as well.

What’s the best way for cheese lovers to indulge themselves without breaking the bank or their diets?

Cheese can be bought in many forms and has a long shelf life. Depending on the type of cheese, it can last 1-2 months in the fridge. Cheese can also be placed in the freezer, extending the shelf life.

What are your three best tips for budding cheese connoisseurs?

Try new cheeses and recipes to broaden your horizons. There are so many things cheese can be used in and there are so many different types of cheeses.

Read books about how cheese is made and how cheeses differ from each other. Also, indulge yourself in learning about dairy cows and the other wonderful animals that produce this nutritious product.

Have a get together with friends and family to discuss what you know about cheese and have a cheese tasting party.

The U.S. ranks second in the world in terms of cheese consumption. Where does America’s love of cheese come from?

America’s love for cheese originated with the arrival of the Europeans.  Cheese was a common part of the diet of these groups.  Dairy cows also were brought to support cheese-making operations and dairy processing in general.  Over time, new ways of using cheese in the diet were discovered and the attraction to cheese expanded.  The migration of people from other parts of the world to America further expanded the role of cheese in the diet.  With the introduction and expansion of pizza in our diet, Mozzarella leaped to become one of the most widely consumed cheeses.

Why is cheese especially popular during the pandemic?

Cheese offers three important features: nutrition, diversity in flavor and texture, and functionality.  With approximately 3,000 varieties of cheese available, there is tremendous variety to suit different tastes.  In terms of nutrition, cheese provides high-quality protein and other nutrients. 

The chemistry of cheese offers functional properties such as melting, emulsification, and others, making it possible to use it as an ingredient in other foods.  And since hard and semi-hard cheeses have a long shelf life, they can be refrigerated for a long time.  All these factors make cheese a popular food in times of a pandemic when visits to the grocery store are limited.  It has the stature of “comfort food”.

What’s the best way for cheese lovers to indulge themselves without breaking the bank or their diets?

Given the wide variety of cheeses available, it’s possible to enjoy a new variety every day of the year.  So, challenge yourself – every time you go to the grocery store, pick out a cheese that you have not had before.  As with any eating habit, with a proper balance between diet and exercise, you can thoroughly enjoy all that cheese has to offer.

What are your three best tips for budding cheese connoisseurs?

1. Have an open mind – be open to trying new varieties. Just because a properly made blue cheese has mold on it, it doesn’t mean that it’s bad.  Limburger has a bad reputation due to its strong odor, but once you get past the smell and begin to eat it, it’s a great-tasting cheese. 
2. Explore different ways of enjoying cheese – it can be used as a table cheese, i.e., eaten as is, or you can try it out as an ingredient, e.g., next time you make a sandwich, you can go beyond the usual American slices.  Try using it as an ingredient in cooking as well.
3. One fun aspect of becoming a cheese connoisseur is learning and watching the making process. During normal times (non COVID) some cheese-making facilities offer tours. Meanwhile there are virtual tours available.  It’s fascinating to see how through only 10 steps, milk can be converted to thousands of different varieties.

The U.S. ranks second in the world in terms of cheese consumption. Where does America’s love of cheese come from?

Cheese is a comfort food and it is incredibly versatile. It makes everything taste better!  

Why is cheese especially popular during the pandemic?

People need comforting now and are cooking at home more.

What’s the best way for cheese lovers to indulge themselves without breaking the bank or their diets?

If people are fortunate enough to live anywhere near actual cheesemakers, the best thing to do is to visit the farm (call first!) or a farmer’s market.  Ask if you can taste samples, then buy what you like.  Products are typically cheapest at the source, so buying directly from the cheesemaker is a treat, but not all of us have that opportunity.

Second to visiting with cheesemakers would be talking to cheesemongers.   Cheesemongers are trained cheese handlers and sellers.  Certified Cheese Professionals (CCPs) go through extensive training to become certified experts in the field.  Ask them questions, tell them what you like, and taste samples.  They can guide you well.

The last option is to simply TRY a variety of cheeses and TAKE NOTES.  Keep track of what you like and don’t like.  Because cheese is so versatile, if you don’t love snacking on one of the ones you buy, you can put it into a recipe and turn it into something else!  (For instance, Swiss, Gruyere, and Jarlsberg are not my favorite snacking cheeses (because of their typical propionic acid flavor), but they are great melted in sandwiches.  I don’t like Asiago, Romano, or Cotija as eating cheeses (because of their typical rancid/lipase flavor), but they can perk up a fondue!

Sometimes you can buy a small portion of cheese from a cheese case—take advantage of those pieces.

What are your three best tips for budding cheese connoisseurs?

Experiment. Taste a lot of cheeses; take notes on every cheese you taste so you can keep track of what you like and don’t like. Meet the cheesemakers (read their stories if you can’t meet them in person) to better understand why it is important to pay the price they request.

The U.S. ranks second in the world in terms of cheese consumption. Where does America’s love of cheese come from?

A lot of this is actually tied to our love of pizza! A surprisingly large proportion of the cheese made in the U.S. ends up on top of your favorite slice. However, consumption of other cheese styles is on the rise too, which may be partly due to the increased popularity of higher-protein diets.

Why is cheese especially popular during the pandemic?

Lots of people who study this point to the draw for comfort food. But I suspect that many of us incorporate cheese more frequently now that we are cooking at home, more, as most of us were over the last year.

What’s the best way for cheese lovers to indulge themselves without breaking the bank or their diets?

Specialty cheeses can be expensive per pound, but the great thing is that small amounts are surprisingly satisfying. For $3 – $5 at the cheese counter, you can grab a wedge of a flavored dry cheese, goat cheese, or blue cheese. These are great for pairing with a few other little “snacky” foods to make a reasonably healthy and super easy meal.

What are your three best tips for budding cheese connoisseurs?

Figure out whether you like the stronger flavors. If you are into dry wine or IPA beers, you might really enjoy some aged or blue cheese. If you stay away from these types of flavor profiles, you can still sample from a wide range of flavored cheddars and other mild cheeses. One of the best cheeses I’ve tried was made from a 50:50 blend of cow and sheep milk – it was a really unique flavor without being overpowering.

The U.S. ranks second in the world in terms of cheese consumption. Where does America’s love of cheese come from? 

Historically, Europeans settled the US, and the Europeans were huge cheese lovers and that desire for cheese came with them.

Why is cheese especially popular during the pandemic? 

Cheese is tasty and a comfort food.

What’s the best way for cheese lovers to indulge themselves without breaking the bank or their diets?

Well, you get what you pay for…generally speaking.  Volume type cheese made in large commercial facilities takes less manpower and costs less to produce per pound.  The artisan cheeses that are handmade are much more costly to produce, but there are many gems out there for which you will pay more for.  Consider it supporting that farmer/artisan cheese producer and supporting the craft that is artisan cheese making.

What are your three best tips for budding cheese connoisseurs? 

Not sure I have 3 tips.  I would say to not always go with what you’re comfortable with, try different styles and types.  You’ll never find that next best cheese unless you branch out and try things you’ve never had before.  There are lots of little cheese shops around the country who have people that are experts in knowing the cheese stories of the cheeses they sell, find one of those stores and enjoy!

The U.S. ranks second in the world in terms of cheese consumption. Where does America’s love of cheese come from?

There has been explosive growth in the world of cheese production, so Americans have many places to turn for their love of cheese, from mass-produced cheese to U.S. artisan cheeses.

The availability of artisan cheese made using traditional practices has ignited a renewed consumer interest in cheesemaking and cheese consumption and this interest in food has been renewed as consumers are spending more time cooking and more time at home during the pandemic. 

Some of this renewed interest is associated with the growing interest in fermented food and the consumption of beneficial microbes. Cheese is the result of the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and molds which all contribute in differing ways to the ripening and flavor of cheese. We have seen this bond with beneficial microbes in our kitchens during the pandemic with the growing interest in sourdough starts that began in the Spring of 2020.

Why is cheese especially popular during the pandemic?

Cheese is a great source of vitamin D and calcium, both nutrients many Americans lack in their diets. These nutrients are also more important at a time when many Americans in the Northern states may spend less time outside in the sun. Also, we have seen in some studies in Spain and Germany that having a good level of vitamin D can correlate with the reduced severity of COVID-19 illness.

What’s the best way for cheese lovers to indulge themselves without breaking the bank or their diets?

At a time when many Americans are suffering from pandemic fatigue, trying new foods is a way of taking a fun and safe “risk.” Perhaps this is a good time to try a new recipe with your favorite cheese or purchase a new type of cheese for the appetizer at the big game or try cheese tasting with family over Zoom.

What are your three best tips for budding cheese connoisseurs?

1. Don’t judge a cheese by its smell alone! Cheese is ripened in a variety of methods. Washed rind and natural rind cheeses rely on the microflora of their aging environments to develop flavors, which may also bring unique and sometimes pungent smells. However, the cheese inside may be more mellow and balanced.
2. Search beyond the dairy aisle. Most grocery stores now have specialty cheese sections near the deli area. If you have tried a large variety of cheese in this section, then it’s time to visit a specialty cheese shop. Cheesemongers behind the counters are always willing to give a sample and have a conversation about the cheese you’re tasting, making every sample a lesson in cheese.
3. Cheese is subjective! Yes, there are cheese competitions, judging, and standards of identification by the FDA. All of which determine a cheddar to be cheddar or a gruyere to be gruyere      However, a high price tag may not mean it’s better than another, nor that you will like it. Great cheeses come with a variety of price tags, just like wine.

Keep a notebook of your tasting notes and prices and be your own judge. A delicious cheese board can cost $20 or $200 but it all depends on what you like!