If you're a fan of cheese, you know there are cheeses with odors that don't exactly tickle the olfactory bulbs. Yes, there are cheeses that have a downright unpleasant smell. Despite the unappealing odor, these cheeses are still valued for their pleasant taste. Here are five of the worst smelling cheeses in the world:
Limburger
Limburger cheese has the distinction of being the most pungent cheese in the world. It originated in Belgium but is now made mostly by the Germans. It has a soft, creamy texture and a taste that's earthy, almost meaty in flavor. Although many people swear by the taste, a high regard for the odor definitely must be acquired. The famous aroma is due to enzymes breaking down certain proteins which lie on the surface of the cheese giving rise to what can only be described as a “stinky” odor.
Morbier
Although this cheese made from French cow's milk has a pungent odor, it has a mild, pleasing flavor. It's easy to identify this cheese in a supermarket due to the dark vein of vegetable ash extending through its center. Cheese lovers swear by its slightly nutty flavor which makes the strong odor less unappealing. Some cheese lovers report the odor is so bad that even their dog runs when they bring out the package of Morbier cheese.
Petite Muenster
Muenster cheese is made from cow's milk and is named after the monks who resided in Munster, France who developed the technique for making this pungent cheese. This cheese was originally made in dark, medieval monasteries. Muenster cheese has a characteristically strong taste which goes along with its pungent, earthy odor. It's often flavored with wild cumin before being cut into discs and wrapped.
German Beer Cheese
The flavor of this German cheese is both tangy and pungent but its characteristically pungent odor doesn't stop this cheese from being enjoyed on a slab of rye bread along with a healthy spoonful of spicy mustard. Once you get past the smell, cheese lovers agree, the flavor of this cheese is quite satisfying.
Aged provolone
This Italian cheese made from cow's milk can be rather sweet in taste before undergoing the aging process. As it ages, the flavor becomes stronger and saltier with a memorable note of tanginess. This cheese is widely regarded as a good cheese for cooking.
If you're a cheese fan and you don't mind a little odor, you may want to give these odiferous cheeses a try. Fortunately, their taste is a lot more appealing than their smell!
