Cheese story
What is Emmental?
A large-holed Swiss cheese with a mild, nutty flavour.
Origin
Emmental / Bern, Switzerland
Milk
cow
Board role
Hard / mature
Cheese profile
Country
Switzerland
Region
Emmental / Bern
Milk type
cow
Texture
hard
Rind
natural
Ageing
4 to 14 months
Vegetarian
Check the rennet / producer
Milk treatment
raw or thermised
Flavour profile: mild, nutty, sweet, buttery
Origin, protection and character
Emmental comes from Switzerland, especially Emmental / Bern. Its character comes from the balance of milk, texture, rind, ageing and local serving traditions.
Protected status
AOP for Emmentaler Switzerland
Typical ageing
4 to 14 months
How to serve Emmental
sandwiches, fondue blends, gratins
Good food matches
white wine
ham
apples
Serving tip
Take it out of the fridge before serving so the texture softens and the flavour opens up. Softer cheeses usually need less time than hard aged cheeses.
Buying tip
Look for clean aroma, good texture and a style that matches the board: fresh and bright, soft and creamy, hard and nutty, blue and salty, or bold and washed-rind.
