100 Worst Rated Western European Cheeses

IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL AND CONSUME THIS CHEESE DUE TO HEALTH RISKS. Casu marzu is a controversial Italian sheep’s milk cheese originating from Sardinia. The cheese is derived from the Pecorino family of cheeses and has a soft-ripened texture with a natural rind. In English, casu marzu means rotten cheese, referring to live insect larvae (maggots) which can be found in it. After the fermentation process, larvae are introduced to the cheese, promoting decomposition and breaking down the cheese’s fats. As a result, the texture of this notorious cheese becomes very soft. Casu marzu is typically cut into thin strips and spread on pane carasau, and it is recommended to pair it with a glass of strong red wine, but only if you find the cheese on the black market as it is illegal in the EU. Just make sure to cover your eyes while eating casu marzu, because the maggots can leap up to 6 inches off the cheese.Expand

This Portuguese whey cheese is made from either sheep or goat milk whey left over from the cheesemaking operations in the Beira Baixa historical region, now Castelo Branco. The delicate, unfermented travia has a grainy but spreadable texture, and a pleasant, sweet lactic flavor. In Portugal, travia is one of the breakfast favorites, and it is usually enjoyed fresh, spread over toasted sourdough bread, sprinkled with sugar and ground cinnamon.Expand

Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage is a blue cheese made from a mix of warm, raw fresh milk and last evening's cow's milk, with a white moldy rind that may become orange due to yeast and bacteria. It has been produced in the French regions of Drôme and Isére since the 14th century. Its name comes from the baron who authorized the sale of Bleu on his lands. The cheese must go through a maturation process for at least 30 days, when its buttery and creamy texture and sweet, mellow, subtle flavors, uncharacteristic for blue cheeses develop. Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage is excellent paired with sweet dessert wines.Expand

Traditionally produced in the Sicilian province of Enna which is nestled in the lush Dittaino Valley, Piacentinu Ennese is a pressed, hard cheese made with raw, whole sheep’s milk, with the addition of saffron and black peppercorns. The flavor of this cheese ranges from mild and slightly sweet to medium piquant and slightly pungent, depending on its age, and it has a pronounced aroma of saffron. Piacentinu Ennese is enjoyed either as a table cheese or used as an ingredient in preparing various recipes such as herb-stuffed lamb meat called Ciarbiduzzo Abbuttunàtu, a typical dish from Enna. It's also fantastic for grilling and often used with bucatini pasta.Expand

This hard cheese is made from various combinations of sheep and goat milk, usually in the proportions of 20-80% or 40-60%. The milk for this cheese is taken from traditionally-fed sheep and goats raised in the Tolosa region. First, the milk is heated and curdled using animal rennet or plant extract. The curd is then molded into cheeses, which are salted and left to mature for a few weeks, resulting in a cheese with a rough, thin, firm yellow-orange crust and a semi-hard, ivory-colored interior. The flavor is sharp and piquant, and the cheese has a medium to high moisture content. This cheese is usually served as an appetizer or a snack before dinner accompanied by good local wines.Expand

Queso Nata de Cantabria is a hard cheese produced in the region of Cantabria and in the basins of the rivers Urdón and Cervera. It is made from unpasteurized milk of Friesian cows reared in the area. The cheese is aged for at least 7 days, and usually between 14 days and two months. It is regularly turned and cleaned during the period of maturation. The flavor of Queso Nata de Cantabria is quite mild, with a nice balance of bitter and sweet. Its texture is firm, smooth, and buttery, which makes it melt in the mouth quite easily.Expand

Tomme fraîche is a hard-pressed curd that is made with cow’s milk. It is made in the production of Laguiole, Cantal, and Salers cheese. The curd is unsalted and slightly fermented, and because it’s hard-pressed, it has a high level of dry matter. It is produced in the natural region of L’Aubrac, which is located in the central-south of Massif Central and is comprised of three departments - Aveyron, Lozère, and part of Auvergne. There are many types of tomme fraîche, but the most noted is the tomme fraîche de l'Aubrac. Tomme fraîche has a soft texture and a mild, milky, slightly sour taste, plus melts extremely well. It is sold in blocks that are vacuum sealed and can range anywhere from 250g (8.8 oz) to 10kg (22 lbs). Tomme fraîche is used to make regional dishes - the cheesy mashed potatoes aligot, truffade, patranque, and retortillat - and most other dishes that require a crumbly cheese or a cheese with good melting properties, such as pizzas, gratins, pies, and salads.Expand

Dating back to the 18th century, Fontainebleau is a French cheese originating from Ile-de-France. It is made with cow's milk and cream, and its texture is smooth, spreadable, and creamy. The flavor is light, mild, fresh, and milky, and the cheese can be served as a dessert or a cheese on its own. Fontainebleau is traditionally sold in a gauze-lined container, and it is recommended to serve it with fresh fruit or berries.Expand

Terrincho cheese is a ripe, semi-hard cheese made from the milk of the Churra da Terra Quente breed of sheep, which graze on the grasslands and marshes of Terra Quente in the municipalities of Bragança, Vila Real, Viseu, and Guarda. This breed of sheep, colloquially referred to as terrincho, has spread to such an extent that it now accounts for 98% of the sheep population in the region. To produce the cheese, the milk is filtered, heated, and curdled with animal rennet. The curd is then shaped into cheeses and salted again before being left to mature. The cheese is medium-hard, compact, and white in color with a malleable, smooth rind. The flavor is sweet and clean, making it perfect as a snack, appetizer, or dessert. It goes well with traditional regional lamb dishes, homemade bread, and local red wine.Expand

Tyrolean grey cheese is a variety of sour cow's milk cheese, traditionally made on lush Austrian pastures from skimmed milk which was previously left to curdle for several days. This cheese is extremely low in fat, it has a thin crackled rind and a crumbly texture. Named after the grey colored mold which emerges on the surface right after maturation, Tiroler Graukäse exudes a strong, pungent aroma. It is typically crumbled over buttered wholemeal bread, but it is also an essential ingredient in many traditional Tyrolean dishes such as nettle soup with Kaspressknödeln, a variety of cheese dumplings, or Zillertal donuts. Interestingly, there is also an Italian variety of Gräukase from South Tyrol and it's protected by a PAT designation.Expand