4 Peculiar Cheeses
1. Vieux Boulogne
Vieux Boulogne, a soft cheese from Northern France, is now officially the smelliest cheese in the world. Scientists at Bedfordshire used an “electronic nose” along with a panel of 19 people. The smell is due to the beer reacting with enzymes in the cheese. It’s so smelly, it’s smellier than Epoisses de Bourgogne, a cheese so smelly it’s banned from being taken on public transport in France.
It was also found that the age of the cheese had no correlation to its stink, but cow’s milk cheese was relatively stinkier than others. English Cheddar was found to be the least stinkiest cheese, followed by Parmesan. [s]
2. Juustoleipa
This Finnish cheese is known in English as “Finnish squeaky cheese” because of the way it squeaks against the teeth when eaten. And guess what it’s made from? Reindeer milk. Yup, Rudolph’s bodily fluid.
It can be dried and stored for several years, and heated over a fire to produce a pleasant smell. Yes, the opposite of Vieux Boulogne.
3. Brunost
Brunost, a Norwegian cheese, also known as “brown cheese”. Some say it tastes like a sweet-savoury, fudgey Caramac. Oh, and it catches fire quite well.
Apparently this cheese is wonderful in sandwiches, rolls, sauces, and, uh, waffles.
4. Sofia
This cheese is produced in Indiana, and is covered with vegetable ash and has an additional ash layer running horizontally through its middle. Sofia is also aged one week before being sold. It’s dense and creamy, the taste sharp and tangy.
This cheese looks something like a burnt marshmallow, but people say it’s delicious.
