Best Southern German Semi-soft Cheese Types
Rauchkäse is a German smoked cheese that's typically made in Bavaria, but it's also popular throughout the country. The most famous variety is produced by Basils, named after a dairy entrepreneur Basil Weixler. The cheese is semi-soft and has a natural rind.
Its texture is dense, soft, and compact, while the aroma is smoky. The flavors are smoky, spicy, and salty, which is a result of smoking the cheese over Bavarian birch and spruce. Made from high-quality cow's milk, Rauchkäse is suitable for a variety of hot and cold dishes, and it's especially great for melting in au gratin or raclette dishes.
Bavaria Blu is a German blue cheese that was originally introduced to the market by Bergader in 1972. The cheese is handmade from high-quality pasteurized cow's milk coming from the Bavarian Alps. The rind is mold-ripened and the texture is soft and creamy.
The aromas are rich and intense, while the flavors are sharp, creamy, and strong. There are also other versions of this cheese such as Bavaria Blu Rich and Creamy and Bavaria Blu Fitness, with a lower fat content. It's recommended to pair Bavaria Blu with aromatic reds such as Lagrein or Dornfelder, or whites such as Silvaner or Riesling.
Pair with
Cambozola is an unusual German triple-cream cheese made from cow's milk. The cheese is produced in the region of Allgäu since the early 1970s by Käserei Champignon, although it first appeared in the 1900s. This cross between Camembert and Gorgonzola (hence the name) has a bloomy rind that hides a creamy and smooth texture of the paste underneath.
On the exterior, grey mold is clearly visible, and on the inside, there are pockets of blue veins. The aroma is strong, while the flavors are sharp, nutty, and slightly sweet. It's recommended to pair Cambozola with a glass of Chardonnay and serve it with honey, crackers, and fruit.
THE BEST Cambozola Cheeses
Käserei Champignon Hofmeister
Cambozola Black Label
World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class 2022, 2020, 2018
Bruder Basil is a traditional cheese hailing from Bavaria, where it was originally produced by Trappist monks. This smoked (rauchkäse-style, smoked over beech wood), semi-soft cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk. Underneath its washed rind, the texture is smooth, creamy, and open with large irregular eyes distributed throughout the body.
The aromas are intense and smokey, while the flavors are mild, savory, and smokey. It's recommended to use Bruder Basil in raclette, sandwiches, or gratins. Pair it with a glass of dry white wine or a bottle of dark beer.
Also known as 'beer cheese', this piquant, salty, semi-soft sliced cow cheese is made using a traditional recipe from the Allgäu region in Germany. Weisslacker was first made during the Franco-Prussian War by the Kramer brothers in Wertach.
It is the first patented cheese in the world, and its name, German for 'white lacquer', derives from its bright white color. Connoisseurs throughout Germany often dip this cheese directly into the beer it is served with – it is too strong to be paired with most wines.
Weisslacker is a regular appearance on menus throughout southern Germany and the Czech Republic, and it is popularly served with pumpernickel or rye bread and radishes or Wurst.
Pair with
Chiriboga Blue is a semi-soft blue cheese hailing from Bad Oberdorf in the Bavarian Alps. It is produced by Arturo Chiriboga, an Ecuadorian native. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's usually left to age for a month or two before consumption.
This rindless cheese has a dense, smooth, creamy, and almost spreadable texture with light veining. The flavors are bright, tangy, creamy, and buttery. Pair it with a glass of Merlot or Riesling.
Pair with
Best Southern German Semi-soft Cheese Producers
Käserei Champignon Hofmeister is a German cheese producer located in Bavaria. The company was established in 1908, and it specializes in producing soft cheeses, including the famous Cambozola, a blue-veined cheese that blends characteristics of Gorgonzola and Camembert.
Käserei Champignon Hofmeister uses traditional handcrafting techniques alongside modern technology to ensure the quality of their products. Their cheeses are made using milk from local farms, ensuring high freshness and quality standards.
AWARDS
Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2021, 2019, 2018
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2022, 2019
World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2022, 2020, 2018, 2016
BEST Käserei Champignon Hofmeister Cheeses
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