Taleggio

Although it only acquired the name Taleggio in the early twentieth century, this style of cheese has been made in the Val Taleggio, in Upper Bergamo, since at least the tenth century and it is from here that the cheese takes its name. Taleggio is characterised by a slightly pungent, pinkish-orange rind and a semi-soft white paste, along with its distinctive square shape. There are many producers and many styles of affinage, which all produce a myriad of different styles of this cheese. Some can have quite a chalky paste and lactic, light flavours, others can be long matured with thick, creamy pastes and rich, deep, pungent flavours. We like our Taleggio to have an active, bright-pink-orange rind and a soft, bulging paste, giving a pungent but still sweet and slightly fruity tang.