Best European Raw Milk Cheese Types
Considered to be among the world's top quality cheeses, Parmigiano Reggiano is made with raw, semi-skimmed milk from cows grazing on fresh grass and hay. It has a hard, gritty texture and its flavors range from nutty to robust and slightly piquant, depending on how long the cheese had matured.
The origins of Parmigiano Reggiano date back to the Middle Ages, when the Benedictine and Cistercian monks reclaimed the Po Valley wetlands and started producing this much-prized cheese. Since it originated and was mainly produced in the two city-states Parma and Reggio Emilia, the cheese was named Parmigiano Reggiano, meaning "a cheese from Parma and Reggio Emilia." The cheese got its name in the 19th century, and the word order is speculated to be purely due to alphabetical order.
Pair with
THE BEST Parmigiano Reggiano Cheeses

Caseificio di Gavasseto e Roncadella
Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2022

Caseificio Sociale Canevaccia
Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2021
Latteria Sociale Moderna
Parmigiano Reggiano Stagionato 30-39 Mesi
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2024

Produced in the region of Basilicata, Canestrato di Moliterno is made from whole goat's and sheep's milk. It is matured in the so-called fondaci, a type of dry, cold, but well-ventilated semi-underground warehouse typical for the Moliterno area.
Depending on the length of maturation, this hard Italian cheese can be either quite sweet or piquant in flavor, and it can be found marketed in three different varieties: Primitivo, ripened for up to 6 months; Stagionato, ripened for up to 12 months, and Stravecchio, ripened for over a year.
Pair with
Saint-Félicien is a soft French cheese originating from the region of Rhône-Alpes. The cheese is made from cow’s milk and has a creamy texture, while its flavor can be described as fruity, sour, nutty, and buttery. During the aging process, it develops a bloomy rind with a strong mushroomy aroma which does not really match the flavors of the cheese.
Due to its fragile nature, this cheese often comes packaged in small terracotta pots. It is recommended to pair it with crusty baguettes, olives, or a glass of red wine.
Serra da Estrela is a semi-soft cheese made from the milk of Bordaleira Serra da Estrela and Churra Mondegueira breeds of sheep. Milking is done by hand, after which the milk is heated, salted, and curdled using thistle extract.
The curd is formed into cheeses, which are left to ripen in humid and cold conditions. The cheese has a creamy, semi-soft interior that is yellowish-white in color, while its flavor is clean, sweet, and slightly sour. This cheese is Portugal's oldest, most traditional food product with international acclaim.
Pair with
Produced exclusively on the island of Sardinia, Pecorino Sardo is a semi-cooked, hard cheese made with whole milk from the pasture-grazing Sarda sheep. This breed is indigenous to Sardinia, raised throughout Italy and considered to be among the best domestic breeds for milk production.
Highly adaptable to different terrains, Sarda sheep feed on fragrant Mediterranean shrubs, which gives Pecorino its distinctive aromatic flavor. It is available in two varieties: Pecorino Sardo Dolce (mild), a sweet and more delicate version, and Pecorino Sardo Maturo (mature), a much stronger flavored cheese that's matured for at least 2 months and pleasantly piquant.
Pair with
Chavignol is a small cheese made from raw goat's milk that must weigh at least 60 grams. Its color is white or ivory and it has a dense, moist texture with a thin, moldy rind on the outside. The flavor of Chavignol is full, slightly nutty and 'goaty'.
It can mature for up to three months, and when the rind drastically changes its color and becomes very hard, and the body becomes drier and crumbly, the origin of its name - crottin, meaning horse dung in French, is explained. Chavignol is great when grilled and served hot on a salad or eaten with bread and bacon.
Azeitão is a semi-soft cheese made from unpasteurized sheep milk. The origins of this cheese date back to the 19th century, when Gaspar Henriques de Paiva emigrated to the town of Azeitão. Out of nostalgia for his place of birth, he imported black dairy sheep from his home town to Azeitão and brought cheesemakers from Beira Baixa to make cheeses.
De Paiva's Azeitão cheeses quickly became famous throughout Portugal, winning several awards at agricultural fairs. The milk for this cheese is taken from sheep that graze on natural vegetation in the pastures of Azeitão. The sheep are milked manually, and the milk is mixed with the extract of a local variety of thistle to start the curdling process instead of animal rennet, meaning the cheese is 100% vegetarian.
Pair with
This semi-hard cheese is traditionally produced from sheep or goat milk, or a mixture of the two. The milk used to make this cheese comes from breeds reared traditionally in the Messinia and Lakonia prefectures, where this cheese has been produced for more than 100 years.
To make Sfela, the curd has to be divided into pieces and reheated. Afterwards, the pieces are drained using cheesecloth, and they are lightly pressed and cut into small strips ('sfelas') and salted. The strips are stored in tin cans full of brine for at least three months to mature.
Arseniko Naxou is a Greek cheese originating from the island of Naxos, hence the name. The word arseniko means male or masculine. The cheese is made from raw sheep’s and goat’s milk with the addition of whey.
After it thickens, the cheese is drained in specially designed baskets known as tirovola. In the beginning, its flavor is sweet, but after a few months it develops a spicy and aromatic flavor.
Ovčí salašnícky údený syr is a uniquely shaped, soft cheese, handmade from unpasteurized sheep's milk in a traditional way in mountainous areas and shepherd's huts in the Slovak Republic. The word salašnícky refers to the word salaš - a shepherd's hut where it is produced.
The cheese is smoked over hardwood and comes in various shapes - most often as a lump, but it may come shaped like a heart, cockerel or other animals. On the exterior it is firm and dry with a crust and little stains that appear from the smoking process.
Best European Raw Milk Cheese Producers
Isigny Sainte-Mère is a cooperative dairy located in Normandy, France, specializing in producing Camembert cheese, butter, and cream with milk sourced from the local area. The cooperative was established in 1932 and takes advantage of the rich grasses of Normandy, which impart a particular quality and flavor to its dairy products.
Isigny Sainte-Mère also holds a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status for some of its products, such as Isigny butter and Isigny cream, ensuring they meet strict geographical and quality criteria.
AWARDS

Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025

Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2021
BEST Isigny Sainte-Mère Cheeses
Walo von Mühlenen specializes in the production and maturation of Swiss cheeses, working with affineurs to age cheeses in optimal conditions. The company highlights traditional methods and regional cheese varieties, maintaining close relationships with small-scale dairies to ensure high-quality products.
They are known for promoting lesser-known Swiss cheeses alongside internationally recognized varieties.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019
BEST Walo Von Mühlenen Cheeses
Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz is a cheese producer located in Germany, specializing in organic cheeses made from raw milk. The company is situated in Oster-Ohrstedt, Schleswig-Holstein, and operates with a focus on sustainability and natural cheese production methods.
They offer a variety of cheeses, including both cow's milk and goat's milk options, manufactured under strict organic standards.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2024, 2023, 2022
BEST Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz Cheeses
Nuova Castelli, based in Reggio Emilia, Italy, specializes in the production and distribution of Italian cheeses, including PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) products such as Parmigiano Reggiano and Gorgonzola. The company was established in 1892 and has expanded its operations internationally, exporting Italian cheeses to various markets around the world.
Nuova Castelli supports traditional cheese-making techniques while also implementing modern technologies to ensure quality and sustainability.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021

Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025
BEST Nuova Castelli Cheeses
AWARDS

Italian Cheese Awards - Nominee
2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

Italian Cheese Awards - ICA
2022, 2019, 2017, 2015
BEST Caseificio Inmasseria Cheeses
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019
BEST Bradburys Cheese Cheeses
Caseificio Pennar is located in Italy, specializing in producing Asiago cheese, a traditional Italian cheese made from cow's milk. The cheese company is known for following traditional methods that have been passed down through generations, focusing on quality and authenticity.
They offer a range of cheeses aged for different periods.
AWARDS

Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023

Global Cheese Awards - Best
2023
BEST Caseificio Pennar Cheeses
Keen's Cheddar is a traditional cheese maker based in Wincanton, Somerset, England. The company, established in 1899, specializes in producing unpasteurized Cheddar cheese made from the milk of their own herd of cows. Keen's Cheddar is known for its strong flavor and firm texture, achieved through age-old cheese-making methods that include the use of raw milk and cloth binding.
Each wheel of cheese is matured for up to 18 months to develop its distinctive taste.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2022

Global Cheese Awards - Best
2024, 2023, 2021

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2018
BEST Keen's Cheddar Cheeses
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2022

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019
BEST Zanetti Cheeses
El Buen Pastor de Oropesa, located in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, is renowned for its artisanal sheep cheese. The cheese is traditionally made from raw milk and aged in the cool environment of a cellar in a former convent from the 16th century. This dairy maintains a small herd of livestock to ensure both the quality of their cheese and the sustainability of their practices.
El Buen Pastor has been recognized for its exceptional products with multiple awards at the World Cheese Awards, including Gold and Super Gold in 2021-22, and Silver in 2017-18. Moreover, the dairy was a finalist in the 2022 Championship of the Best Cheeses of Spain.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021
Best European Raw Milk Cheeses
Blackmount is a raw milk ashed lactic goats milk pyramid made with milk from our small herd of dairy goats, it is made with vegetarian rennet and is yeast ripened so it softens from the outside in if left to mature long enough. Blackmount is the hill behind our farm which forms the start of the Pentland Hills which go right up to Edinburgh.
It develops citrus and fresh flavours from the middle and the rind becomes slightly spicy as it ripens.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024
Don Carlo is an Italian cheese made from the raw milk of Bruna Alpina cows. This cheese is semi-hard, and it matures for several months, resulting in a rich, complex flavor profile. It has a smooth, creamy texture with a slightly nutty taste, complemented by hints of butter and grass.
The aging process also imparts a mild spiciness to the cheese, making it a versatile option for pairing with a variety of foods, especially cured meats, fruits, and wines. Don Carlo is known for its natural rind and is often enjoyed as a table cheese or grated over dishes.
AWARDS

Italian Cheese Awards - ICA
2019, 2017, 2015
Großer Deichkäse 12 Monate is a cheese produced by Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz. This cheese is crafted from raw milk and is aged for 12 months to develop its distinctive flavor profile. The aging process allows it to achieve a firm texture and a rich, complex taste that includes notes of nuttiness and a hint of sweetness.
It is often enjoyed as part of a cheese platter or used in gourmet recipes.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) made by Castelli is a high-quality Italian cheese renowned for its rich flavor and granular texture. Crafted using traditional methods, it is made from raw cow's milk and aged for a minimum of 12 months to develop its characteristic taste.
This cheese is often used grated over pasta, risotto, and soups, or enjoyed on its own with wine and fruits.
AWARDS

Global Cheese Awards - Best
2024

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023
Gran Pennar di Montagna is a cheese produced by Caseificio Pennar, a dairy located in the Asiago plateau region of Italy. The cheese is known for its hard texture and rich, savory flavor. It is likely aged for several months to develop its complex taste profile, which includes nutty and slightly sweet undertones.
This cheese is typically used in culinary applications where a robust flavor is desired, such as grating over pastas, soups, or salads.
AWARDS

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023

Global Cheese Awards - Best
2023
Keen's Raw Milk Truckle Cheddar is a traditional artisan Cheddar cheese made by Keen's Cheddar, a renowned cheese producer in Somerset, England. This cheese stands out for being made from raw, unpasteurized milk sourced from the family's own herd of cows, which graze on the lush pastures surrounding the farm.
The cheese is crafted using time-honored methods, including hand-cheddaring and aging in cloth-bound truckles, which helps develop its distinct texture and complex flavors. Keen's Raw Milk Truckle Cheddar is noted for its deep, rich taste with earthy undertones and a slightly tangy finish, making it a favorite among cheese connoisseurs.
AWARDS

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023

Global Cheese Awards - Best
2023
AWARDS

Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024
AWARDS

Global Cheese Awards - Best
2024

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024
Roquefort Revelation is a refined blue cheese made from raw sheep's milk, originating from the renowned Roquefort-sur-Soulzon region of France. It offers a complex flavor profile with creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet notes, complemented by distinct umami from its blue veins.
The cheese has a creamy yet crumbly texture and is aged in natural caves, allowing it to develop its unique characteristics. Ideal for pairing with fruits like figs and pears, as well as robust red and dessert wines, Roquefort Revelation is a luxurious choice for cheese boards and gourmet dishes.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
Le Gruyère AOP is made from raw cow’s milk and adheres to strict quality standards as indicated by its AOP (Appellation d'Origine Protégée) certification. The cheese is aged for a minimum period to develop its characteristic smooth texture and complex taste profile.
This product is often used in a variety of culinary applications, from fondue to quiches, or enjoyed on its own as part of a cheese platter.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2022, 2021
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 100 European Raw Milk Cheeses” list until March 14, 2025, 22,504 ratings were recorded, of which 15,344 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.