Top 68 Californian Cheeses

Humboldt Fog is an American cheese produced in Arcata, California. The cheese is made with goat's milk and has a paper-thin bloomy rind. Inside, there is a semi-soft body with a creamy, smooth, and slightly runny texture, due to the fact that Humboldt Fog ripens from the outside to the centre. The cheese is distinguished by a layer of edible ash on the interior, which is actually a nod to the French Morbier cheese. The aromas of this cheese are pungent and floral, while the flavors are citrusy, tangy, and slightly lemony. It is recommended to drizzle it with honey and serve it with almonds, tart apples, or prosciutto. For the best experience, pour a glass of beer or Sauvignon Blanc on the side. And if you're eating Humboldt Fog and think that the flavors are ''dreamy'', you might not be far from the truth - its inventor, Cypress Grove Chevre founder Mary Keehn says she fell asleep on a plane and dreamed about a new type of cheese with a line running through it, and the Humboldt Fog was born.Expand

Goat Gouda is an American semi-hard cheese produced in California. This Gouda-style cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk and cream. The rind is natural, and the texture is dense, firm, and smooth, sometimes slightly grainy. The aroma is sweet and the flavors are caramel-like, milky, and nutty. Goat Gouda ages for about 5 months before it's ready for consumption. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of Chardonnay and serve it with sour cherry preserve.Expand

Monterey Jack is an American cheese made from cow's milk. It originates from Monterey in California, where it was first made by Spanish missionaries under the name queso blanco pais, but it was later taken from them by David Jack, who bought nearly all of Monterey in 1859 and renamed the cheese to Jack's Cheese, soon to be called Monterey Jack's Cheese. Historical shenanigans aside, this semi-hard cheese has a firm, open, supple, and compact texture and a natural rind. It is pale yellow in color, while the flavors are mild and buttery. Monterey Jack also melts exceptionally well. It has a few subvarieties, such as Dry Jack and Pepper Jack. The cheese can be easily found in almost all supermarkets in the United States.Expand

Pepper Jack is an American cheese produced in Monterey, California. This popular variety of Monterey Jack cheese is flavored with jalapeño peppers for a spicy kick. It's made from cow's milk and has a natural rind that hides a creamy, smooth, and open texture. The aromas are herbal, while the flavors are sharp, spicy, and buttery. The cheese has a high moisture content and melts easily. Pepper Jack is often used to add flavor to sandwiches, pizza, omelets, and casseroles. It's also recommended to use it in Mexican-style dishes such as quesadillas, enchiladas, and nachos.Expand

Point Reyes Bay Blue is an American cheese hailing from California. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's left to age for 90 days. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is crumbly and creamy with blue-green veining running throughout the paste. The aromas are strong and earthy, while the flavors are creamy, sweet, mushroomy, salty, and buttery, with hints of caramel at the finish. It's recommended to pair Point Reyes Bay Blue with toasted nuts or grilled peaches. The cheese also melts well, so it's often used in risottos and pasta dishes or on steaks and burgers.Expand

Point Reyes Original Blue is an American blue cheese produced in California by Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company. The cheese is made from raw cow's milk and has a natural rind. The texture is creamy and buttery and the aromas are milky, fresh, and intense. The flavors range from milky, sweet, and creamy to strong. It's recommended to serve it with pasta dishes, red meat, grilled vegetables, or fresh salads. Pair the cheese with a glass of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, or sparkling wine.Expand

Mt Tam is an American cheese hailing from California, where it's produced by Cowgirl Creamery. This soft triple-cream cheese is made from organic cow's milk with the addition of cream. It has a bloomy rind and the texture is firm, smooth, dense, and creamy. The flavors are rich and buttery with earthy, mushroomy, and grassy hints. Mt Tam is named after the majestic Mt. Tamalpais in Northern California. It's recommended to pair the cheese with a glass of Sancerre.Expand

Purple Haze is an American cheese produced in California by Cypress Grove. It dates back to the 1970s, when Mary Keehn found herself with excess goat milk and invented the cheese in the process. Nowadays, the milk is pasteurized in vats with coagulants and cultures, and the mix is then placed into a curd press to drain. The curd is combined with salt and shaped into disks which are dusted with wild fennel pollen and lavender. Without aging, the cheeses are sent to markets where they can be sold and consumed. This aromatic, fresh, soft cheese has no rind, and its texture is crumbly, smooth, creamy, and spreadable. The flavors are earthy and herbaceous. It's recommended to pair Purple Haze with Riseling or Sauvignon Blanc. Try it with bacon-wrapped dates or finocchiona salami.Expand

Breakfast Cheese is an American cheese hailing from California, where it's produced by Marin French Cheese Company. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's usually sold at a very young age of 3 days. The texture is firm and dense, slightly clay-like, and ivory white in color. The aroma is fresh while the flavors are tangy, salty, buttery, mild, creamy, and citrusy. It's recommended to serve it with bagels and fruit as a tasty snack. This cheese was originally sold in saloons where it was served as an alternative to pickled eggs, hence the name Breakfast Cheese. The small version is known as Petite Breakfast, made with the addition of a dollop of fresh cream to the mix.Expand

Midnight Moon is a gouda-style cheese that's produced in the Netherlands and sold under the Cypress Grove label in Arcata, California. The cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk and it's left to age from 6 to 12 months before consumption. Underneath its waxed rind, the texture is smooth, dense, grainy, and hard. The aromas are sweet and nutty, while the flavors are buttery, nutty, sweet, and savory with hints of butterscotch and caramel. It's recommended to pair Midnight Moon with a glass of Zinfandel, Syrah, or sherry. The cheese has won many awards, including a gold medal at the World Cheese Awards in 2014.Expand

Central Coast Creamery is located in Paso Robles, California, where they specialize in producing handcrafted cheeses using local milk free of artificial hormones. The company focuses on aged cheeses and offers a variety including goat, sheep, and cow milk varieties. Their product lineup includes multiple award-winning cheeses recognized in national and international competitions.Expand

Laura Chenel's Chevre, based in Sonoma County, California, is known for pioneering artisan goat cheese in America since the late 1970s. The company emphasizes sustainable farming and local sourcing, utilizing milk from goats raised in the region to produce a variety of fresh and aged goat cheeses. Their products reflect a commitment to natural methods and the rich terroir of the Sonoma Valley.Expand

Shooting Star Creamery is a small, family-owned creamery from California (USA), known for producing artisanal cheeses made from both raw and pasteurized milk. It was founded by young cheesemaker Sophie Thomson, daughter of the owner of the renowned Central Coast Creamery, which gives this brand a strong link to experience while also bringing the freshness of a new generation of producers. Shooting Star Creamery stands out for its innovative approach, blending traditional techniques with modern ideas to create unique cheeses with distinctive character and rich flavor. Their products are inspired by European cheese styles but carry a Californian touch – bright, full of life, and adapted to contemporary gourmet trends. Shooting Star Creamery symbolizes youthful energy, innovation, and passion for craftsmanship, while at the same time continuing the family tradition of quality and dedication.Expand

Marquez Brothers International, based in California, specializes in the production and distribution of Mexican-style dairy products, including a variety of cheeses, yogurts, and creams. The company markets its products under several brand names, one of the most prominent being El Mexicano. In addition to dairy products, Marquez Brothers produces and distributes other food products such as meats, tortillas, and salsas, catering mainly to Hispanic consumers in the United States.Expand

Cypress Grove is an American cheese producer based in Arcata, California, known for its innovative and award-winning goat cheeses. The company was founded in 1983 by Mary Keehn, who started with just two goats, Hazel and Esmeralda, in search of healthy milk for her family. Her passion for raising goats and making cheese quickly grew into a serious business, and today Cypress Grove is recognized as a leader in the American goat cheese industry. The company’s most famous product is Humboldt Fog, a unique creamy goat cheese with a layer of ash in the middle, reflecting a blend of tradition and innovation in every bite. Cypress Grove prides itself on a sustainable approach to production, using green building standards and implementing eco-friendly initiatives in its creamery. Their philosophy is based on respect for animals, high-quality ingredients, and the preservation of the natural environment, allowing them to produce cheeses with rich, full flavor without compromising on ethics or environmental responsibility. In addition, the company continuously experiments with new recipes and techniques, constantly expanding its offerings and creating innovative flavors that captivate cheese lovers around the world.Expand

Cowgirl Creamery is a renowned artisanal cheese producer, founded in 1997 by Sue Conley and Peggy Smith in Petaluma, California. The company specializes in the production of organic cheeses, offering a wide range of hand-crafted cheeses that reflect their commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation. Cowgirl Creamery prides itself on using milk from local farms in the Point Reyes area, known for its rich pastures. The use of locally sourced, organically grown milk gives their cheeses a unique character, depth of flavor, and a high level of quality. Two of Cowgirl Creamery's most famous products are Mt. Tam and Red Hawk, both cheeses with rich, creamy textures and complex flavors. Mt. Tam is a soft, creamy cheese with a mild sweetness, while Red Hawk is a washed-rind cheese with a deep, intense flavor, characterized by its reddish-orange rind. These cheeses have become symbols of quality and excellence in the world of artisanal cheese. Cowgirl Creamery produces cheeses in small batches, allowing them to pay close attention to every step of the production process, from sourcing the milk to the final aging phase. By combining traditional techniques with innovative approaches, they continuously improve their products while staying true to the authentic methods of cheese-making.Expand

Marin French Cheese Company, established in 1865, is the oldest continuously operating cheese manufacturer in the United States. It specializes in producing artisanal soft-ripened cheeses, including varieties such as Brie and Camembert. The company focuses on sustainable practices, sourcing its milk from local dairies in the surrounding region.Expand

Bellwether Farms, located in Petaluma, California, is a family-owned creamery that produces a variety of artisan cheeses and dairy products. They are known for using traditional methods and primarily sheep's milk, along with cow's milk, to create their products. Bellwether Farms also offers a line of yogurts alongside their cheeses.Expand

Harley Farms, located in Pescadero, California, is a goat dairy farm that produces a variety of award-winning goat cheeses. The farm spans nine acres and houses a herd of over 200 Alpine goats, from which the milk is sourced for cheese production. Harley Farms offers a selection of cheeses including chevre, fromage blanc, ricotta, and feta, as well as farm tours and events for visitors.Expand

Oakdale Cheese & Specialties is a family-owned cheese producer based in Oakdale, California, specializing in handcrafted Gouda cheese following Dutch tradition. It was founded by Walter and Lenneke Bulk in 1983, with production starting in a renovated barn near Escalon. The family tradition of cheesemaking goes back four generations, and today John Dirk Bulk, the founders' son, serves as the head cheesemaker. In 1995, the company moved to Oakdale, where a store was opened and the product range expanded to include Quark, white cheddar, and goat Gouda cheese. Oakdale Cheese & Specialties is recognized for the quality of its products, winning numerous awards at prestigious competitions. In addition, the company takes pride in its environmental responsibility, having installed solar panels that cover up to 87% of the factory’s energy needs.Expand