Search locations or food
OR
Sign up

What to eat in Central Europe? Top 34 Central European Soft Cheeses

Last update: Fri Feb 28 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Central European Soft Cheese Types

01
Ovčí Salašnícky Údený Syr
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

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. 
02

Cheese

SILESIAN VOIVODESHIP, Poland
4.4
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Traditionally associated with the region of Silesia, gołka is a smoked Polish cheese that is exclusively made with cow’s milk. It is characterized by its light yellow color, and before it is smoked, it is placed in carved wooden molds that form its typical cylindrical shape and provide a decorative pattern on the rind.


With its delicate taste, smoky flavor, and soft texture, gołka is best paired with fruit preserves and bread.

03
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Slovenská parenica is a soft, steamed cheese made from unpasteurized sheep's milk of the Wallachian, Cigaya, East Friesian and improved Wallachian breeds. The cheese can also be made using a mixture of raw sheep's and cow's milk, where the content of sheep's milk must be at least 50%.


The parenica is wound in two rolls that are connected in an S-shape or a spiral, steamed and lightly smoked. The rolls are bound with cheese string or chains. Its aroma is smoky with a characteristic smell of sheep's milk, and the taste is delicate, mild and slightly salty. 
04
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Bryndza Podhalańska is a unique soft cheese made from the milk of the Polska Owca Górska (Polish Mountain Sheep) breed of sheep, produced in the Nowotarski, Tatrzański and some parts of the Žywiecki districts in Poland.


The cheese can also be made with a mixture of sheep's and cow's milk, where cows must be of the Polska Krowa Czerwona (Polish Red) breed, and the maximum amount of cow's milk used in the process must not exceed 40%. The cheese gets its name from the traditional name for the region - Podhale, where many skillful cheesemakers produce this white, creamy-white or greenish delicacy with an intense, salty and slightly sour flavor.


Since Bryndza Podhalańska is a seasonal product, it is only made from May until September. 
05
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Maredsous is a Belgian soft cheese made from cow’s milk. It is made by monks of the Maredsous Abbey, hence the name of the cheese. It is first lightly pressed, shaped into loaves, then washed in brine so that a firm, orange-colored crust can be developed, as well as its signature pungent aroma.


It is recommended to consume Maredsous cheese on its own as a table cheese, or use it for grilling.

Pair with
06

Cheese

CANTON OF VAUD, Switzerland
4.1
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Vacherin Mont d'Or is a traditional cheese hailing from the area on the border of France near the mountain d'Or. The cheese is made from thermalized cow's milk, and it's available only from October until April, making it highly seasonal and somewhat rare.


It shouldn't be confused with Vacherin du Haut-Doubs or just Mont d'Or cheese – that one is made exclusively with raw cow's milk in France. Vacherin Mont d'Or is wrapped in spruce in order to contain the slightly liquid and melting interior.


Due to its mild flavor and melting and creamy texture, it's recommended to eat the cheese with a spoon when it's at room temperature. 
THE BEST Vacherin Mont d'Or Cheeses
1
Fromagerie Tyrode
Vacherin Mont-D'or AOP

5.0

Rate It

Concours International de Lyon - Gold 2025

07

Cheese

PRIMORJE AND LIKA, Croatia
4.1
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Škripavac is a Croatian cheese made from raw cows' milk, characterized by its fresh aroma and a soft, gummy-like texture. The flavors are mild, milky, and slightly sweet. The cheese is named after the Croatian word for squeaky, because škripavac makes a distinctive sound when bitten into it. Škripavac is almost always made from the milk of Buša breed of cows - they are well adapted to the Lika region, where the cheese is produced.


It's recommended to eat it on its own, with a few slices of homemade bread, although the cheese can also be grilled for a true gourmet experience.

Pair with
08
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Slovenská bryndza is a soft cheese made from sheep's milk produced in the mountainous regions of the Slovak Republic. The sheep usually graze at lower altitudes, but during the summer, they move to higher altitudes to lengthen the grazing period.


Its name, bryndza, comes from the Romanian word for cheese - Wallachian. The cheese is white, slightly moist, made from matured milk, and is easily spreadable in granular form. It has a delicate aroma of sheep's milk and a uniquely sour taste that is slightly salty and spicy. 
Pair with
09

Cheese

ZÁZRIVÁ, Slovakia
4.1
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Zázrivský korbáčik is a steamed string cheese made from cow's milk. It can be either smoked or unsmoked and it is presented in the unique shape of a little whip (korbáčik in Slovak). The cheese has been made in the Zázrivá area in the Slovak Republic since the second half of the 19th century when it was the only source of income for the local farmers.


It is produced almost entirely by hand, steaming the lumped cheese in hot water and pulling it into strings plaited into little whips, a process that requires a skill specific to the women of the region. The texture of the cheese is stringy and the smoked variations have a smoky aroma, yellow color and are saltier than the unsmoked variety of korbáčik that is white. 
10

Cheese

PAG, Croatia
4.1
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Paška skuta is a traditional ricotta-type cheese produced on the island of Pag. The skuta is made from leftover whey after the production of the famous and award-winning Paški sir. The curd is separated and drained, usually overnight, and the result is a soft and fresh cheese with a unique mild and gentle flavor coming from the milk of the indigenous Pag sheep (Paška ovca).


This fresh skuta is low in fat and it's full of healthy Omega-3, protein, calcium, and zinc. The cheese is very versatile and it's recommended to use it in cheese cakes or flavor it with orange liqueur and serve it with fresh fruit. Paška skuta is especially good for liver regeneration, and on the island of Pag, while the strong bura wind blew over the landscape, people would often begin their day with a cup of black coffee with pieces of skuta placed inside of it.

11
12
13
Cheese
PAYS DE HERVE, Belgium
3.8
14
Cheese
CANTON OF VAUD, Switzerland
3.8
15
Cheese
BAVARIA, Germany
3.4
16
17
Cheese
TYROL, Austria  and  one more region
3.2
18
Cheese
BAVARIA, Germany
n/a
19
Cheese
DIKSMUIDE, Belgium
n/a
20
21
Cheese
ISTRIA, Croatia
n/a
22
Cheese
GELDERLAND, Netherlands
n/a
23
24
Cheese
CANTON OF VAUD, Switzerland
n/a
25
Cheese
CANTON OF NEUCHÂTEL, Switzerland
n/a
26
Cheese
ROUGEMONT, Switzerland
n/a
27
Cheese
CANTON OF GRAUBÜNDEN, Switzerland
n/a
28
Cheese
BELP, Switzerland
n/a
29
Cheese
BELP, Switzerland
n/a
30
Cheese
CANTON OF GRAUBÜNDEN, Switzerland  and  one more region
n/a
31
Cheese
CANTON OF TICINO, Switzerland
n/a
32
Cheese
SWITZERLAND
n/a
33
Cheese
CANTON OF ST. GALLEN, Switzerland
n/a
34
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Central European Soft Cheese Producers

01
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List

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
02

Cheese

LUCERNE, Switzerland
5.0
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List
Our refinement process is a unique interaction between man and nature. The KALTBACH Cavemasters take care, feel, turn and check the Cheese with great attention to detail, until they reach the perfect ripening time - this is how they get their exceptional taste.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold

2023

World Cheese Awards - Gold

2024, 2023, 2021

BEST Kaltbach Cheeses
03

Cheese

UPPER AUSTRIA, Austria
4.9
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold

2024

BEST Premiumkäserei Pranz Cheeses
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Central European Soft Cheeses

01
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List

Montagnolo Affiné is a soft, creamy blue cheese from Germany, known for its rich, indulgent flavor. The cheese is triple-cream, which gives it a luxurious, buttery texture that melts in the mouth. The blue veins provide a mild, tangy flavor, making it less sharp than typical blue cheeses.


The aging process enhances the complexity of its flavors, balancing earthy notes with a slight sweetness.
AWARDS

Global Cheese Awards - Gold

2023, 2021

International Cheese Awards - Gold

2022, 2019

02
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold

2024

03
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List

Grand Noir, produced by Käserei Champignon Hofmeister in Germany, is a premium blue cheese encased in black wax. It is known for its intense, bold flavor and smooth, creamy texture. The cheese is aged for several months, developing a rich, tangy taste with earthy and nutty undertones.


The black wax rind helps preserve the cheese's moisture and enhances its distinctive characteristics. Grand Noir pairs well with fresh fruits, nuts, and robust wines.
AWARDS

Global Cheese Awards - Gold

2023, 2018

International Cheese Awards - Gold

2023, 2022

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class

2022, 2016

04

Cheese

LUCERNE, Switzerland
4.9
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List

Kaltbach Creamy is a Swiss cheese product crafted by the Emmi Group. It is known for its remarkably smooth and creamy texture, which is a result of its unique aging process within the natural sandstone caves of Kaltbach. The cheese is semi-hard, characterized by a subtly tangy flavor and hints of nuttiness.


Its distinctive creaminess sets it apart from other cheeses, and it features a beautiful dark rind that is a direct outcome of the aging process in the caves. Kaltbach Creamy is versatile in its use, ideal for both cooking and direct consumption as part of a cheese platter.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold

2021

05
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold

2024

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. 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.

Show Map
Central European Soft Cheeses