What Cheese Is Origin From America?

What Cheese Is Origin From America?

Cheese is delicious and comes in many forms from all over the world. It is used in numerous dishes, as dips and as snacks or appetizers. Some of the oldest, stinkiest types hail from many a small European village or even a whole country. But what are some that come from America?

There are few that originated in the USA, because we are a country made up of people from all over the world and when they first came they brought their recipes for food from home with them. There are a few types though that can be considered originally created in America.

American

The first and obvious answer is American. This is a yellow cheese that is fairly firm and very versatile. It is one of the easiest to find in lower fat varieties which can be a major bonus if you're watching your waistline, as everyone seems to be these days. American also comes in easy, ready to use slices that are very convenient for sandwiches or to pack for lunches. Because there is a lot of moisture present in American it's great for melting and sauces. One of the biggest drawbacks though, is the high amount of processing involved in making this cheese.

ColbyFor those of us who look for a slightly less processed cheese, Colby is the answer. It originated in its namesake town in Wisconsin and is often considered a type of Cheddar, probably because of the shared color. This cheese is slightly softer than Cheddar due to its containing more moisture. The flavor is slightly sweet and it's made without a rind.

Monterey Jack

Monterey Jack is another of America's originals in this food group. It came about in the 19th century from Mexican friars in the California region for which it was named. It is white and semi-hard, with a mild flavor that is often used for mixing with other cheese or veggies, like peppers. An interesting note about Monterey is it has a lower amount of tyramine, a fact that makes it often recommended to people who suffer from migraines.

If you fear for the fate of American food because of manufacturing, don't lose too much sleep over it. There is a high rate of new interest in small hobby farms creating hand-made artisan cheeses. Try visiting some of the food co-ops near you or local farm markets and you're sure to discover an American hidden treasure!