Brazil has two cheese varieties that are among the 50 best in the world. Canastra and Coalho (curd) cheese rank 12th and 38th, respectively.
TasteAtlas is a platform with over 10,000 registered and mapped foods and beverages, considered an encyclopedia of world foods.
It conducts popular surveys for various rankings each year, including World’s Best Cheeses.
In 2023, two Brazilian kinds of cheese will be on the list. Italy’s Parmigiano Reggiano tops the rankings.
As might be expected, the top ten include nine kinds of cheese made in Italy and only one Portuguese cheese, Serra da Estrela.
CANASTRA CHEESE
The most famous cheese from Minas Gerais, Canastra cheese, owes its name to the fact that it has been produced in the Serra da Canastra (Canastra Hills) for over 200 years.
Made from raw cow’s milk, rennet, salt, and pingo, a natural yeast extracted from the whey of a former cheese wheel, it has a crumbly texture and is pleasantly salty.
The secret to the traditional flavor, texture, and color of Canastra cheese lies in the aging process.
In Brazil, it is sold fresh, semi-mature, and mature.
The semi-matured cheese has an aging time of about 10 days and is ideal as an accompaniment to a cup of coffee.
The ripened cheese has a ripening time of more than 22 days and is ideal for recipes or as an accompaniment to special wines and beers.
The fame of Canastra cheese is not new.
In 2008, the Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) recognized its production method as a Brazilian Intangible Cultural Heritage.
COALHO CHEESE
Coalho cheese, a traditional grilled cheese, is a product from the northeast of the country that has been consumed throughout Brazil for over 150 years.
The white, lightly salted, slightly acidic, and very tasty cheese is made by fermentation and coagulation, involving digestive enzymes in the process.
The cheese is suitable for grilling and desserts.