Description

Blue Vein cheese also known as Blue cheese is a generic term used to describe cheese produced with cow's milk, sheep's milk, or goat's milk and ripened with cultures of the mold Penicillium. The final product has green, grey, blue or black veins of mold throughout the body. Blue cheese is also identified by a peculiar smell that comes from cultivated bacteria. The flavor of the cheese depends on the type of blue cheese, shape, size, the climate of the curing and the length of aging. But it generally tends to be sharp and salty. Blue cheese is believed to have been discovered accidentally when cheeses were stored in natural temperatures and moisture-controlled conditions. Early versions of this cheese were produced in France and Italy, and later versions evolved throughout Europe and North America. Blue cheese has many more variants like; Gorgonzola- it has a distinct look and is used for adding zest to risottos, pastas or pizzas, Castello Double Crème Blue- is a blue cheese with smooth, with a velvety texture and a slightly sharp and salty taste, Roquefort- it is made from sheep’s milk, and has moist and laced body with small blue pockets. Stilton is yet another type of blue cheese that has creamy and nutty specks, followed by a delicate finish. It is less moist than other blue mold cheeses. Castello Traditional Danish Blue cheese has a creamy profile of intricate flavors and a smooth texture.

Health benefits

• Blue cheese helps in lowering cholesterol levels by maintaining HDL levels, prevents artery inflammation and clotting of blood in the veins and arteries. It is thus a suitable ingredient to maintain a healthy heart. ⁽¹⁾
• It has anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing inflammation of joints and relieve arthritis pain. The addition of blue cheese in the diet not only helps in the management of arthritis pain but also prevents the onset of this condition.⁽¹⁾
• Being an excellent source of calcium, blue cheese is important for bone health. It helps in strengthening the bones and maintains its rigidity and strength.⁽¹⁾
• Blue cheese helps in the production of saliva. This prevents teeth from getting affected by acidic effects which may lead to various tooth problems like tooth decay, cavities, etc. ⁽²⁾
• The presence of lactobacillus bacteria in blue cheese gives a probiotic immunity power to the body. It fulfills the requirement of producing good bacteria in the intestines which gives protection against infections that might lead to microbes. ⁽²⁾

Selection Guide

Avoid cheese that's developed a lot of white mold on the rind as it indicates improper handling. A firm blue cheese will have a nutty or smoky smell and should never have a strong, gamey odor as the latter ensures spoilage. Make sure to smell it well as soft cheese has a meaty smell to it, and should never have an ammonia smell.