Cheese from Finland: the best varieties and their characteristics
At the very first acquaintance, the cheese from Finland can surprise you with its unique taste. This country occupies a special position in the world ranking of dairy products due to its respect for the purity of nature.Milk and all its derivatives are one of the general components of the lifestyle of its population and, accordingly, the leading direction of production, innovation and creativity.
What is the fault of lactose?
Lactose is the second component of milk after water. It has a number of beneficial properties when it enters the body, affecting its various systems. Persons with lactose intolerance can not consume dairy products, while losing an important source of calcium and nutrients with high nutritional value. Finland is a pioneer in creating a range of products adapted to such people, using a natural mechanism that makes this unwanted sugar disappear. Fermentation and high fat content in dairy products help reduce the amount of lactose. In addition, traditional methods of aging cheeses (more than two years) reduce its content to almost zero.
However, not all brands of cheese, which are usually produced using modern technologies, possess these properties. Valio has developed the first fully soluble milk powder and produced lactose-free milk powder with authentic milk flavor.
Varieties
Below is a line of lactose-free cheeses from Finland that can be used for frying.
Leipajuusto, or Juustoleipa (“bread cheese”, or “cheese bread”)
Soft cheese, traditionally made in Lapland. It is usually made from cow's milk, but you can use deer or goat. The main secret is that traditional cooking milk is enriched colostrum, which animals give when they have just had a baby. Commercial organizations usually use normal milk, and therefore cheese does not have such an intense taste.
It is also made in lactose free form. For this, the cottage cheese is drained and pressed into a flat wooden disc with edges. The cheese is placed in front of the fire, the surface is partially burned and hardens, the inside remains soft, creamy and tender. Usually served for breakfast or as a dessert in the form of hot and often accompanied by blackberry jam for tea or coffee.
The main feature is that the cheese makes a creaky, rubber sound when it is eaten.
Oltermanni
This lactose-free cheese is one of the favorite Finns cheeses in the style of Havarti. It is made on a large dairy plant Valio, owned directly by farmers. They produce the purest milk in the European Union thanks to their clear water and environment without industrial pollution. Outside Finland, this cheese is sometimes sold under the name Baby Muenster or Finlandia Cheese. But in fact, he has nothing to do with them.
Oltermanni has a light tint of butter with a slightly bitter aroma. Like Turunmaa, this product is almost crustless and has small irregular holes. Like many Scandinavian cheeses, it is served for breakfast with sliced rye bread or grilled. Thanks to fruit notes, it makes a natural pair for plums, grapes, apricots or pears. Feedback from the most demanding public about this product is always positive.
The unique taste in its pure form and in cooked dishes leaves a memory of itself for a long time.
Valio karelia
Full-bodied and aromatic, rich in protein, soft, lactose-free cheese, not spoiled by artificial sweeteners, preservatives and GMOs.
It is best to try it in combination with bread, but this dairy product feels great in a salad, roasting and on a cheese plate.
Valio polar
Low calorie product with a taste close to Gouda cheese. Ideal for supporters of diet food for sandwiches and sandwiches, although the reviews about it are negative.
Valio Eila Grillijuusto
Made from fresh milk, but without lactose and preservatives. Ideal for cooking on the grill or frying in a pan, does not melt and does not stretch when heated, during frying takes on an amazing crisp.
Loputon Kermajuusto
It is a soft and tasty cream cheese, ideal for all ages. Suitable for sandwiches and hot dishes.
The best cheese without lactose and additives.
Arla kadett
Lactose-free cheese, which people should eat every day. What we consume daily affects the body, the level of nerves and emotions - in a word, everything. Man needs strength to be active.
Arla Kadett - protein-rich natural cheese, which will give you this strength and energy, but will not add fat.
Arla magre
Lactose-free dietary cheese with a touch of nut.
Reviews
Residents of St. Petersburg have the happy opportunity to indulge themselves with lactose-free cheeses from Finland at least every day, bringing and trying their various variations. Feedback is usually positive, which explains the huge number of cars with Russian numbers on the streets of Helsinki.
Choose your cheese to taste, but remember that it is better to follow the proven recipes for years, because from generation to generation Finnish milkmen have been looking for points of contact between their products and other ingredients. For example, one customer was surprised at the accolades for Juustoleipä cheese, because she only tried it - the fried cheese did not hit anything. Remembering the cloudberry jam mentioned in the recipe, she replaced it with the native strawberry, and only then the taste of the cheese was revealed to her fully.
Restaurant visitors highly appreciated hot fried cheese as an aperitif, this position adorns many menus and is constantly in demand.
We looked at the leading brands of lactose-free frying cheeses from Finland, paying maximum attention to their taste, main ingredients and use options. The most spoiled gourmets will certainly study with interest every position on this list and pamper themselves with these varieties.
The need for lactose-free products continues to grow rapidly, solving the global problem of the need to exclude dairy products from the daily diet because of lactose intolerance and expanding the menu of people suffering from this disease.
Review of the Finnish fried cheese - in the next video.
