6 Worst Rated Northern European Blue Cheeses

Gamalost is a traditional cheese made from skimmed cow's milk. The cheese has a mold-ripened rind; its texture is dense, granular, and chewy, the aromas pungent, while the flavor is sharp. It's also rich in protein and has a fat content of only 0.5 to 1.0%. The cheese is traditionally aged from 1 to 6 months. In order to make it, an acid is added to skim milk, causing it to sour. The fermented solids are then pressed into molds to create the circular shape. Later on, the cheese is hand-rubbed with mold and left to age. It can be stored for a prolonged period of time without refrigeration, which is why it's been produced in the past when there were no methods of refrigeration. Gamalost should be cut with a hollow blade cheese knife due to its dense and granular texture. It's recommended to pair it with gin or a robust beer. Serve it with dark bread with butter, sour cream, cranberries, fresh fruit, or fruit jams.Expand

Ädelost is a Swedish blue cheese that was originally created as an alternative to the imported French blue cheeses. The cheese is made from cow's milk and it ages for 8-12 weeks. It has a thin, pale rind that's dusted with specks of grey, white, and blue mold. The interior is creamy in texture and pale in color, scattered with blue-grey pockets and broken veins. The flavors are sharp, spicy, salty, and tangy. Ädelost is usually crumbled over salads or used as a table cheese, but it can also be combined with balsamic vinegar and olive oil to create a piquant salad dressing. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of hoppy beer or local schnapps.Expand

Aura is a semi-soft Finnish cheese made from cow’s milk. It originates from the city of Turku, but since 1935 the production has been transferred to the region of Äänekoski. This blue cheese has a creamy texture and a strong, tangy, salty, and sharp flavor, similar to Roquefort. It was named after the Aura River. Nowadays, the cheese is sold in two versions – regular, aged for six weeks, and Aura Gold, aged for twelve weeks. Aura is often used as a filling for rolled stuffed salmon, but it is also commonly used in the preparation of cheese soups.Expand

Norway probably isn't the first country that comes to mind when we think about great cheese. However, that might change as Norwegian producer Tingvollost won the main prize and the title of the world's best cheese at the 2016 World Cheese Awards in San Sebastian, Spain for its blue cheese called Kraftkar. More than a hundred judges assessed over 3,000 cheeses according to a number of qualities such as color, texture, and flavor before they came to the conclusion that Kraftkar is undoubtedly the champion. This blue cheese is produced from cow's milk from the family farm located in the village of Torjulvågen. It has an excellent texture that first crumbles, and then you get a soft creaminess, while the mould is nicely developed and distributed evenly throughout the body. The name of the cheese, translated to strongman, refers to the legendary farmhand Tore Nordbø and his extraordinary size and strength. The company's chairman Gunnar Waagen was totally stunned when he was presented with the award, expressing his gratitude and acknowledging what it means for a small family business like Tingvollost. All that is left is to book a ticket to Norway and indulge in Kraftkar, preferably paired with crackers, walnuts, figs, fruit jams – or eat it on its own – after all, it is the best cheese in the world!Expand

Danablu is a semi-soft blue cheese made from full-fat cow's milk in Denmark. While the milk is hardening, the curds are pricked with needles to develop the blue-gray mold which spreads evenly throughout the cheese. The cheeses mature for 5 to 6 weeks and develop a creamy, crumbly texture and a white or light yellow color. Its flavor is intense, sharp, salty and slightly bitter, while the aromas are pure and piquant. Although it does not develop a rind, it has a tight and firm outer layer. Danablu can be enjoyed in many ways, served on cheeseboards, on bread, as an ingredient in sauces, dressings and salads, grilled or paired with roasted almonds, sliced pears, walnuts, honey, or stout beer.Expand

Bla Castello (also known as Blue Castello) is a traditional cheese made from cow's milk. It was developed in the 1960s to meet the demand for creamy and mild blue cheeses. This soft cheese has a rich, buttery, Brie-like texture underneath its unique rind that can develop a combination of blue-green and red molds. The aroma has hints of mushrooms, while the flavor is buttery, tangy, and mildly spicy due to blue veins in the body. The cheese ages from 8 to 10 weeks. It's recommended to serve it with Danish crispbread and Danish beer, but it's also often added to salads.Expand