Try These Expensive Italian Cheeses

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Today Italy counts 450 cheese varieties from soft, semi-hard, and complex types. In addition, every region of Italy has its own cheese families that identify them. Talking about the cheese industry in Italy would need endless literature, but lets see what are the most expensive Italian cheeses you need to try!

The most expensive Italian cheese is Caciocavallo Podolico, with a price of $50 per pound. Cacio Bufala is the second most costly cheese, costing $45 per pound. Both these kinds of cheese are produced in small quantities, and thats why their price is this generous. Parmigianno Regianno and Grana Padano are also considered very expensive.

If you love Italian cheeses, this article will overview the best and sharp cheeses and some detailed explanations of what makes Italian cheeses this special and unique.

What Are the Most Expensive Italian Cheeses?

List of Expensive Italian Cheeses to Try

Before we begin, here is a cheat sheet to review.

Taste Region Uniqueness Price 
Caciocavallo Podolico Spicy and complex Basilicata High-quality milk $50
Cacio Bufala Sweet  Campagne Can be produced all year long $45
Parmigiano Reggiano Salty, milky and strong Emilia Romagna Aging process $20
Grana Padano Nutty and buttery taste Padana Grainy texture €15

Caciocavallo Podolico

One of Italys most extraordinary and unique cheeses is the Caciocavallo Podolico of Basilicata. The particular element is thatit is made only from the cows of the Podolica breed. The surface in which this breed is grown is considered small, but the cheeses quality is supreme.

The demand and supply ratio makes the price very high compared with other Italian cheeses.Caciocavallos price can go up by $50 per pound.

Someone may ask: but why dont producers raise this type of cow in more regions? A precise response is difficult to be stated, but some reasons may be as below.

Some cows may be fragile to the environment. It can be difficult for them to survive in a region that does not have the same climatic and geographic conditions as Basilicata. However,the climate, weather, and territory conditions help the cows be raised in their best need to produce good milk.

Some cows may be environmentally sensitive. They may struggle to live in a place that lacks the same climatic and geographic parameters as Basilicata. However, the temperature, weather, and terrain characteristics assist cows in being grown in the ideal circumstances to provide excellent milk.

This cheese does not need a significant maturing period. It can be consumed after three months, but the more it stays, the more complex the taste can be.

Parmiggiano Reggiano 

One of the most expensive cheeses is Parmigiano Reggiano.The authentic and originalParmigiano Reggianois costly due to the raw materials used and production processes.It starts with monitoring the breeding farms and ensuring that the best quality milk will be granted.

Parmigiano Reggiano is one of the most costly cheeses.Because of the raw resources utilized and the manufacturing techniques, real and original Parmigiano Reggiano is expensive.It starts with monitoring the breeding farms and ensuring that the best quality milk will be granted.

Parmigiano Reggiano is one of the most costly cheeses.Because of the raw resources utilized and the manufacturing techniques, real and original Parmigiano Reggiano is expensive.It starts with monitoring the breeding farms and ensuring that the best quality milk will be granted.

Parmigiano Reggiano is one of the most costly cheeses.Because of the raw resources utilized and the manufacturing techniques, real and original Parmigiano Reggiano is expensive.It starts with monitoring the breeding farms and ensuring that the best quality milk will be granted.

Parmigiano Reggiano is one of the most costly cheeses.Because of the raw resources utilized and the manufacturing techniques, real and original Parmigiano Reggiano is expensive.It starts with monitoring the breeding farms and ensuring that the best quality milk will be granted.

Granna Padano

Another excellent and expensive cheese is Grana Padano.Grana is,in fact,the number one cheese in Italy,and I have explained below why. Granna Padano is a little cheaper than Parmigianno Regianno, as the wide of the territory produced is bigger. For this reason, consumption is higher.

Grana Padano is another superb and pricey cheese.Grana is,in fact,the number one cheese in Italy,and I have explained below why. Granna Padano is a little cheaper than Parmigianno Regianno, as the wide of the territory produced is bigger. For this reason, consumption is higher.

Cacio Bufala

Grana Padano is another superb and pricey cheese.Grana is, in fact, the most popular cheese in Italy, as I explain below. Granna Padano is a little cheaper than Parmigianno Regianno, as the wide of the territory produced is bigger. For this reason, consumption is higher.

The texture of Cacio Bufala is solid and has a complexity of smellsand some slightly sweet flavor. It has a yellow color and more white on the inside. The aging process in Cacio Buffalo is around eight months and is done in natural caves.

After the cheese needs to be salted in brine for two more months, this artisanal semi-hard cheese can be produced all year long and has a fat percentage of around forty percent.

After the cheese needs to be salted in brine for two more months, this artisanal semi-hard cheese can be produced all year long and has a fat percentage of around forty percent.

What Is the Most Expensive Cheese in Italy?

From the list above, the most expensive cheese is considered Caciocavallo Podolico, as its price starts from $50 per pound. This cheese is deemed rare due to the small quantity of production. The demand for it is high, and the supply is low, and thats why the price is this high.

What Is the Most Expensive Italian Cheese Brand?

From the list above, the most expensive cheese is considered Caciocavallo Podolico, as its price starts from $50 per pound. This cheese is deemed rare due to the small quantity of production. The demand for it is high, and the supply is low, and thats why the price is this high.

Caciocavallo Podolico is the most costly cheese on the list, with prices starting at $50 per pound. Because of its limited manufacturing, this cheese is considered uncommon. The demand for it is high, and the supply is low, and thats why the price is this high.

They have at least forty-two selections of cheeses that they export worldwide.

What Is the Number One Cheese in Italy?

Regarding popularity and production volume, the number one cheese in Italy is Grana Padano.More than 185 tonnes of cheese were produced in 2016, with 2,6 million tonnes consumed. This value has been 35% of all cheese production in Italian markets.

Grana Padano is a very old cheese, dating back to at least 1504.Grana is salty and has a grainy texture, from which the name was generated. This type of cheese is fantastic for antipasti and cheese platters, pasta, and hot sauces, and you can put it on top of almost everything.

What is important to mention is how to recognize the real and the original Grana Padano from other Grana cheeses produced in the market.In every packaging of the authentic Grana Padano, there are two logos.

A yellow logo in the shape of the rhombus that writes Grana Padano, and the other one isthe red logo of theEuropean Union called PDO,which proves that every part of the production, processing, and preparation process takes place in a specific region that is Padana, Italy. [1]

Only a cheese with both those logos is considered the real Grana Padano and is the one I am talking about today, and that is worth consuming.

Part of Grana cheese is also Parmigiano Reggiano, Italys second most famous cheese. Parmigiano Reggiano is also an artisanal variety that is long, ripened, and hard-cooked. Parmigiano Reggiano matures in three stages: one, two, and three years.

One year of maturation is softer, while the more maturated, the more complex, grainy, and better it becomes.

What Is the Sharpest Italian Cheese?

In the long list of Italian cheeses, the tastes are endless. Some of them are sweet and soft, some extremely salty or with a firm texture, so it depends on the purpose or your preference which will you consume.

The word sharp cheese stands mainly for cheeses with a firm and robust flavour. Given this, I would suggest two: Gorgonzola and Provolone Valpadana.

So, the first option for a harsh flavor will be Gorgonzola, a soft and white cheese. Gorgonzolahas several blue specks that are, in reality, moldand are the important attribute of this cheese. Gorgonzola is creamy and soft but very spicy and bitter due to the mold.

Gorgonzola is one of those cheeses that you either like from the beginning or dont like.It has a specific sharp taste that mixes the spiciness with sweet and earthy tones.

or aged for some time. It has a milky aroma with some butter tones, and sometimes you can also feel some fruit aroma.The second choicefor a sharp Italian cheeseis Provolone Valpadana.This is a semi-hard cheese that has a complex production process that creates, in the end, a tough and strong taste.Provolone is offered in two tastes: mild and piquant, but you can also find those tastes smoked and

What Is Special About Italian Cheese?

Italy is known as one of the worlds best countries for producing cheeses, so randomly, a question may occur to your mind: what is so particular about Italian cheeses?

Firstlythis industry has been improving forever in Italy; historical evidence proves that Italians have been making cheese since the 19th century. Time shows that this industry has been developing for a long time.

Secondly, one of the main secrets and success elements in Italian cheeses isthe milk and rennets used to produce the cheeses. The regions have a significant impact on the quality of milk. Po Valley is one of the most important regions offering milk made from some of the best Italian cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano and grana Padano.

This region, Po Valley, has very developed agriculture favored by the conditions like conformation of the territory, the abundance of water, and the temperate climate. Those elements provide an environment for feeding and breeding dairy cattle breeds. Due to all those factors, this area can produce an immense quantity of food like milk which is the raw material of cheese.

Rennets used are also another element that differenties Italian cheeses. Italian producers have passed from one generation to another the typicity of rennets.

Thirdly,every Italian cheese has its way of production.The type and quantity of rennets used, the coagulation process, drying, and salting can be very different. This creates fantastic diversity in the cheese sector in Italy.

And lastly, the branding philosophy that Italian farms follow.The secret is hidden behind every good cheese by numerous farmers who collaborate, intending to keep the cheeses name and prestige to a high standard.

FAQs

What are the most expensive cheeses in Italy?

Share your passion for Italy! Caciocavallo Podolico is one of the world’s most expensive cheeses thanks to the Podolica cattle from which its milk and name are derived. This rare breed thrives on lots of wild herbs, but very little water.

What are the top 10 most expensive cheeses?

12 Most Expensive Cheeses in the World
Pule | ~$600 per pound. …
Moose Cheese | ~$500 per pound. …
White Stilton Gold | ~$400-$450 per pound. …
Wyke Farm Cheddar | ~$200 per pound. …
Extra Old Bitto | ~$150 per pound. …
Caciocavallo Podolico | ~$50 per pound. …
Old Ford | ~$50 per pound. …
Germain Époisses | ~$45 per pound.
More items…•May 2, 2022

What is the most luxurious cheese?

Pule cheese is the most expensive cheese in the world because it is produced exclusively at Serbia’s Zasavica Special Nature Reserve. This rare cheese is made from the milk of Balkan donkeys which are endangered and native to Serbia and Montenegro.

What are the top Italian cheeses?

The most popular Italian cheeses include mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano, gorgonzola and ricotta. Some of these cheeses work best slathered on crusty Italian bread as appetizers, while others are integral parts of main courses, pasta toppers, or even desserts!

What is the king of all Italian cheeses?

Parmigiano Reggiano markings are unique. Known as the “King of Cheeses”, Parmesan, or Parmigiano Reggiano was first produced by Benedictine and Cistercian monks a thousand years ago.

What is the number 1 cheese in Italy?

Parmesan (or Parmigiano Reggiano)

Tasting notes: Italy’s most famous cheese is known as ‘Parmigiano Reggiano’ or even as the ‘king of cheeses’ in its home country. It has been present since the Middle Ages in northern Italy.

What is the number 1 cheese in the world?

Cheddar. This sharp cow’s milk cheese is one of the most popular cheeses in the world today, and it was first produced in the village of Cheddar in Somerset county, England in the 12th century. Cheddar is a hard cheese made from pasteurized cow’s milk, and it ranges from white to pale yellow in color.

What are the top 5 best cheeses?

Which are the top five most popular cheeses?
Cheddar Cheese.
Mozzarella Cheese.
Parmesan Cheese.
American Cheddar.
Cream Cheese.

What is the stinky expensive cheese?

If you’ve read anything about stinky cheese, you may know that a particular French cheese from Burgundy, Epoisse de Bourgogne, usually gets top marks for being the smelliest cheese in the world. Aged for six weeks in brine and brandy, it’s so pungent that it’s banned on French public transport.

What are some rich cheeses?

Your Top 10 Protein-Rich Cheese Options
Parmesan is a kind of cheese. Protein per 100 Calories: 9.1g. …
Swiss Cheese. Protein per 100 Calories: 6.9g. …
Pecorino Romano. Protein per 100 Calories: 10.0g. …
Cottage Cheese. Protein per 100 Calories: 12.9g. …
Edam. Protein per 100 Calories: 7.0g. …
Gouda. …
Gloucester. …
Cheddar Cheese.
More items…•May 20, 2022

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