When somehow ask whether you like goat cheese, do you a) smile and say yes please! or b) run for the nearest exit. People seem to have a strong opinion on goat cheese. It’s a love/hate thing, with not a lot of people in the middle. A lot of people assume that all goat cheese has this strong, earthy, tangy flavor. I am here to say that this isn’t true. You need to look for mild goat cheese and that can start by looking for typical cow’s milk cheese made from goat’s milk. Here are a few examples:
Goat Milk Muenster
This is one I found recently. Pasture Pride Cheese makes a goat milk muenster. Now I am not talking about the French version which is a strong stinky cheese, but the traditional American muenster that is white with orange around the edges. It is a mild cheese that one of my favorite melters. The goat milk version had the same feel as a muenster, a little extra kick, almost fresher taste. I picked up this cheese at Holiday Market in Canton, Michigan.
Goat Milk Cheddar
Trader Joe’s sells a 5 month old goat milk cheddar. It is a mild cheddar that is flavorful and not overly “goat”. This cheese is extremely white in color.
Goat Milk Gouda
Whole Foods Market sells Yodeling Goat Gouda. I picked it up once on one of their 3 day weekend sales. In a blind taste test I probably wouldn’t have assumed this is made from goat’s milk. It is a milder gouda with a tame flavor.
Lactose and Goat Cheese
People that have problem digesting the lactose in cow’s milk cheeses, may be better off with goat cheese. Goat cheese does still contain lactose however the fat globules in goat’s milk are smaller and do not separate in the milk. Goat’s milk is naturally homogenized. Some people may be able to do ok with goat’s cheese because of this, but still depends on the person. If you are someone that wants to try this and has been turned off by the taste of goat cheese in the past, might want to try one of the milder “cow-type” cheeses mentioned above.
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