Building Your Cheese Tasting Vocabulary
Building Your Cheese Tasting Vocabulary: Terms Every Cheese Lover Should Know
Impress your friends with your in-depth knowledge of cheese, starting with this list of cheese definitions every cheese connoisseur should know.Ageing
Ageing is the process by which cheeses are matured under controlled conditions to develop their rich flavours, aromas, and textures. During ageing, enzymes and cultures within the cheese, as well as external conditions like temperature and humidity, interact to deepen the cheese's characteristics. Ageing can range from a few weeks to several years. Indeed, some of our strongest cheeses have been aged for up to 3 and a half years, just like our Extra-Matured Vintage - Large Waxed Cheese Truckle.
Artisan or Artisanal Cheese
Artisan cheese is handmade cheese crafted with the utmost care using quality ingredients. You can find this type of cheese in luxury cheese shops like the Chuckling Cheese Company.
Barrels
Cheese can be shaped into many forms, including barrels. The barrel shape, much like the wheel or truckle, is practical for ageing and storage purposes. Barrel cheeses like this delicious Lymn Bank Farm Smoked Cheese Barrel are smaller, making them easier to cut into portions for individual consumption.
Cheese Cake
Forget the dessert, this kind of cheese cake is a Chuckling Cheese speciality! Picture artisan cheeses stacked high just like a wedding cake, each layer a different cheese to sample. It’s the perfect alternative to a cake for those who always wished their birthday cakes were made of cheese!
Cheese Hamper
A cheese hamper is a curated gift box filled with an assortment of cheeses and accompaniments such as crackers, chutneys, and wines. Luxury cheese hampers are thoughtfully assembled to create harmonious flavour and texture combinations.
Cheese Plane
A cheese plane is a small, sharp metal device specifically designed for cutting thin slices of cheese. Whenever you have difficulty slicing hard or semi-hard cheeses, switch to using a cheese plane! They are perfect for creating uniform slices for cheese platters and sandwiches as they allow for more control over the thickness of each slice.
Chutney
Chutneys are those delicious condiments you often find in a cheese hamper. Originating from India, they contain fruits, vegetables, salt, spices and herbs. Chutneys pair exquisitely with cheese, providing sweet or spicy contrasts and adding depth with their complex flavour profiles.
Rind
A cheese rind is the outer layer formed during the ageing process. Don’t mistake it for the wax, the rind is sometimes edible and greatly contributes to the cheese's flavour and texture. Rinds also protect the cheese from spoiling and contamination.
Truckle
Truckles are those cylindrical hard cheeses that come encased in attractive, colourful waxes. Their traditional shape is practical for ageing, slicing, and serving the cheese. The wax coating often found on truckles helps to retain moisture and protect the cheese from spoilage. Truckles can be found in an extraordinary variety of flavours – just check out our range for some wild examples, including the best-selling Charcoal Cheddar truckle.
Umami
One of the five basic tastes, along with sweet, sour, bitter, and salty, umami is a savoury taste that is rich and full-flavoured. Often described as a meaty taste, umami is a key flavour profile in many aged cheeses, particularly those that are rich and complex. This taste is attributed to the presence of glutamates and nucleotides, which become more concentrated in cheese as it ages.
Wax
Wax is a coating found on some types of cheese. This outer layer prevents the cheese from drying out during ageing and protects it from spoilage or unwanted mould growth. The wax acts as a moisture barrier and a protective layer against contamination, helping to maintain the cheese's quality and extend its shelf life. That’s why you see it on cheeses that are aged or transported over longer distances. There are several ways to cut the wax – using a cheese plane is the easiest and safest method. However, a small knife will also do the trick!
Wheel
A “wheel” of cheese is just what you’d imagine – a large, circular form of cheese. This shape is common for many types of cheese, especially aged cheddars stored in large batches. The large size of a wheel helps to retain moisture within the cheese, helping it develop its rich flavour and texture during ageing.
Young
Young cheese is known for being softer, milder and moist due to a shorter ageing process. These cheeses are appreciated for their freshness, as they tend to be lighter and creamier than their aged counterparts.
Want to Become a Cheese Expert?
These terms are only the beginning – discover the diverse world of cheese tasting at the Chuckling Cheese Company. With over 50 cheeses to try and an ever-growing selection of snacks, drinks, and accompaniments, your journey to becoming a cheese aficionado starts here!
