If you haven't tried Testun al Barolo yet, you are seriously missing out! This Italian cheese from the Piedmont region is an absolute revelation!
- What is it? It's a semi-firm, sometimes hard, "drunk" cheese (or ubriaco), often made from a blend of cow's and goat's/sheep's milk. The name Testun loosely translates to 'hard-headed,' referring to its firm texture.
- The Magic: What makes it legendary is the aging process. The wheels are placed in wooden barrels and aged under the pomace (leftover grape skins and seeds) from making the iconic Barolo DOCG wine (which comes from the Nebbiolo grape).
- The Taste: The grape must stains the rind a gorgeous purple and seeps into the paste, giving the cheese an explosively complex flavor profile: bitey, creamy, sweet, vinous, buttery, and sharp all at once. The texture is firm yet often flaky and melt-in-your-mouth.
Seriously, grab a piece and pair it with a glass of Barolo (of course!) or a rich, full-bodied red. It's the perfect post-dinner cheese board star.
by KelGhu