Vasterbottensost Cheese Review
Reviewed by David Savage
I recently received some Vasterbottensost cheese for review. Vasterbottensost cheese in a Swedish mature cheese made from cow’s milk. It is a light coloured cheese with small holes.
On opening the packet I was greeted by a strong aroma which almost, to me at least, smelt a bit sweet and to be honest the smell put me off but didn’t stop me trying it. I cut off a small piece and tasted by itself and it was too strong for me so I knew sandwiches made with it would be no good. So I needed to try another way of trying it, but what? I decided to grate the cheese and have it on pizza, so I got a basic cheese and tomato pizza and added the grated Vasterbottensost to the top. On top on the pizza if tasted a lot better so for me it is better used in cooked meals rather than on its own or in sandwiches. I also tried in on top on a burger and while it still tasted ok it was still a bit strong for my liking.
Overall this is a strong cheese which is bitter. I can’t get used to the smell which maybe some of the reason I am put off by it. So for me, it won’t be something I will try again as it doesn’t agree with my taste buds. That said, in fairness for a review I gave some to a friend to try and they absolutely love it – going as far as saying it is one on the best tasting cheeses they have tried to date.
So to sum up, I found it to taste better in food where other flavours where mixed in (it wasn’t so strong that it overpowered other flavours) where as my friend who likes strong cheese (the stronger the better) loved it on its own and with cooking.
So if you like strong flavoured cheese you probably won’t be disappointed, but for me I will stick to mild cheese. So purely on my tasting I would have to rate it 3½ out of 5 but lovers of stronger cheese will enjoy it more.
After sampling and writing my review I did check the Vasterbottensost website and they have lots of recipes for different meals and salads using the cheese, so all I can say is that try it for yourself and make up your own mind as taste is a very personal thing.
Too strong for me.
Rating: 3.5/5
Price per kg is around £20.
Vasterbottensost cheese is available to buy from Waitrose and Ocado.
