Havarti

Havarti s a semi-soft Danish cow's milk cheese that can be sliced, grilled, or melted. Havarti is a washed curd cheese, which contributes to the subtle flavor of the cheese. It is an interior-ripened cheese that is rindless, smooth and slightly bright-surfaced with a cream to yellow color depending on the type. It has very small and irregular openings, or eyes, distributed in the mass. Havarti has a buttery aroma and can be somewhat sharp in the stronger varieties, much like Swiss cheese. The taste is buttery, and from somewhat sweet to very sweet, and it is slightly acidic. It is typically aged about three months, though when the cheese is older it becomes more salty and tastes like hazelnut. When left at room temperature the cheese tends to soften quickly. Flavored variants of Havarti are also available, such as cranberry, garlic, caraway, dill, basil, coconut, and jalapeño.