Goat's milk is widely used in the creation of various blended cheeses. When it comes to goat cheese, they differ according to their curing time: if they are young, they are softer and have a sweeter flavor, while if they are more mature, they end up being drier and their flavor will be more bitter and intense.

As for the best-known varieties of goat cheese, we can say that the main ones are those listed below:

1. Chèvre Camembert

We all know the famous Camembert cheese. Although the original version is made with cow's milk, there is also a version made with goat's milk, hence the name Camembert de chèvre.

Known for its soft texture, intense flavor and consistent white “cover”, it is a delicious cheese cut into slices and eaten with toast and fruit jam, but it is also delicious baked in the oven and served with a drizzle of honey.

2. Bûche

This is a soft cheese, creamy texture, slightly spicy flavor and ivory white color, produced from pasteurized goat's milk.

This cheese melts easily, so it can be an excellent option for bruschetta, pizza or warm salads. However, it is also excellent on warm bread and spread with fruit jam or chutney.

3. Rocamadour

This cheese, named after the French town of Rocamadour, is made from raw goat's milk, which is left to curdle for at least 20 hours, at a minimum temperature of 18ºC. The curd is drained and is then kneaded and salted into the dough, then deposited by hand into individual molds or traditional plates. The minimum maturation period is 6 days, but can last up to 15 days.

The end result is a cheese that can be creamy dry or even quite dry, covered with a thin ivory white crust. It goes well with wines, fruit jams and egg recipes.

4. Aged goat cheese

In addition to French-style cheeses, there is also traditional Portuguese cured goat cheese, such as Trás-os-Montes goat cheese. To produce this cheese, mountain goat milk, salt and rennet are used. The minimum curing time is around 60 days. The end result is a hard to semi-hard cheese, whitish in color, intense and slightly salty flavor. It goes well with homemade bread, fruit jam, wines and sausages.

How to use your Goat Cheese

Cheese is a very versatile food in the kitchen, as it can be used for delicious salads, appetizers, desserts or in delicious starters to surprise friends and family. Take the opportunity to watch our video recipe for Goat Cheese Tartlets with Forest Fruit Jam and Vanilla.
For those looking for an irresistible combination, we recommend pairing it with the Perfect Jam for Fig, Orange and Anise Cheese. The intense flavor of Beira Baixa cheese is perfectly balanced with the sweetness of the fig, acidity of the orange and intensity of the anise.

At your next dinner with your friends, you can also opt for a simple and delicious cheese board, ready in 5 minutes and excellent for socializing before the main course. See our suggestion for a cheese board here.

Discover all the delicious combinations between cheeses and our perfect cheese sweets.