Your tasty guide to different types of cheese

Choosing the right cheese can be intimidating – with so many options and names to remember, how can you find the perfect one? Especially if you’re seeking a cheese board idea and plan to include other delicious snacks in your design. 

But fear not – iPantry is here to shine a light on the wonderful world of cheese with this ultimate cheese guide. We’ve got a great range of award-winning and artisan cheese brands in the Eggs & Dairy aisle of our online shop, along with dairy-free cheese, too. 

A brief history of cheese

Believe it or not, cheese has been made for thousands of years. Likely invented by accident, humans have been making it since around the time sheep were domesticated. Cheese wasn’t mass-produced until the 19th century by the Swiss – and with pasteurisation, cheese production exploded around the world. 

Nowadays, you may have noticed a big resurgence in traditional cheesemaking processes with the rise of artisanal, handmade cheese varieties. This includes amazing inventions when it comes to vegan cheese and some newer dairy-free cheese alternatives, too. 

How many types of cheese are there?

It’s estimated that there are around 1,800 different types of cheeses in the world! And as many cheeses as there are, there are just as many ways to classify them as well. Needless to say, we’re excited to explore all the varieties but to help you narrow down your search, let’s start with the most popular types. 

Cheddar 

Great for melted cheese toasties or as an addition to your next salad sanga, we’ve got a few different options if you’re hanging for some cheddar. Check out the bitey peppercorn cheddar or garlic cheddar from Maffra Cheese Co. For a slightly more mild, creamy taste, go for Norco Natural Cheese Co's elbo style cheese (well, not 'technically' cheddar). For a dairy-free cheddar cheese alternative, try the vegan american cheddar from Damona.    

Mozzarella 

This soft, salty cheese melts like magic and is commonly used on your favourite pizzas. We’re proud to stock buffalo mozzarella, gourmet mozzarella (scamorza bianca) and shredded mozzarella from the legendary folk at That’s Amore Cheese. And for our vegan friends, you can grab some fresh vegan mozzarella from Damona (it’s a game-changer!). 

Brie 

Your cheese board idea wouldn’t be complete without the inclusion of a soft cheese like brie. Our top picks are the beach box brie from BoatShed Cheese and La Monique Cheese’s stunning brie. Both are perfect for pairing with crackers or even a fresh piece of fig. 

Camembert

Speaking of soft cheeses, camembert is the king. A wheel of this creamy cheese is a good match for sweet pastes, like quince, and we think you’d be set with camembert from either Milawa or La Monique Cheese.

Ricotta

This would have to be one of the most versatile cheeses on the planet. Ricotta can be used for pancakes, pizza, pasta, in cheesecake recipes or you could swap it into your morning muesli instead of yoghurt. We love That’s Amore Cheese traditional ricotta for all of this and more because it’s so fresh and made with love. 

Blue Cheese

A controversial cheese at best, blue cheese can divide even the most liberal cheese lovers. For your next cheese board idea, match BoatShed Cheese’s Chelsea blue with dried raisins or fresh pear, and enjoy on a dark grain cracker for extra crunch. 

Vegan cheese 

One of the most missed products from a vegan diet is often vegan cheese. Thankfully there’s been a huge groundswell of love for dairy-free cheeses and we’re excited to bring you the best of the best, starting with The Vegan Dairy.

Their range of organic, cashew cheese is mouthwatering even if you don’t follow a vegan diet. Try the Persian feta in your next salad or add the dill chevre or ashed chevre to your cheese board – you won’t be disappointed!

Other great vegan cheeses you can find on iPantry include:

• Damona vegan bocconcini
• Green Vie vegan-style haloumi
• Lauds aged cashew cheese
• Green Vie vegan blue cheese
• Yay! Foods marinated vegan feta, and
• Pimp My Salad vegan hemp parmesan.

Organic cheese 

To round out your journey through the cheeses of today, we thought we’d wrap things up with a few of our new and favourite organic cheeses. Symon’s Organic Dairy has a delicious collection of cheeses, including an organic vintage cheddar, organic parmesan block and organic halloumi, to name a few. 

We’re also excited to bring you True Organic’s organic brie. Handcrafted using the finest organic milk, this cheese can turn your next classic cheese board into a luxurious affair. 

Say ‘cheese’ with your favourites on iPantry

We’re passionate about bringing you surprising and artisanal cheeses to try, each and every time you shop with us. Order before 2pm Monday to Friday and enjoy next day delivery, too. Whether you’re planning a gathering or craving a ‘next level’ toastie, you’ll discover a whole range of amazing cheese products on iPantry.