The Ultimate Guide To Mexican Cheeses

Cheese is big business in the U.S. Per capita cheese consumption has been rising since 2000 (via Statista). The average American today consumes around 40 pounds of cheese annually. Paired with the rise in popularity of Mexican cuisine, this has created an increased demand for a more diverse portfolio of Mexican food items (via Beyond Borders Gazette). Indeed, Mexican food is now considered the second most popular ethnic cuisine in America, behind Italian cuisine. One common thread between the two? Both cultures love to use cheese in dishes!

The driving factor behind this trend is likely multi-faceted. Mexican food is known to be a quick, affordable, and delicious meal option. However, the influx of immigrants from Mexico to the U.S. is also a central factor (via Salon). As these immigrants settle into their homes, their desire to consume familiar foods produces a demand for authentic ingredients at grocery stores and restaurants. Increased demand and Americans' curiosity about ethnic foods crafted a need for authentic ingredients to be made available.

This is great news for turophiles like us. However, we like to be informed consumers, so we're diving into understanding more about the history, individual flavor profiles, textural variations, and uses of various kinds of Mexican cheeses. Here's a comprehensive list of the wonderful world of Mexican cheese to help guide those curious to learn more ways to introduce cheese into dishes.

Like queso blanco, queso fresco is another farmer's cheese that evolved from the cheesemaking culture imported to Mexico by the Spaniards in the 1800s (via Mexico Cheese). Translated to "fresh cheese," the texture and flavor of queso fresco are almost indistinguishable from queso blanco. However, its production is distinct. Queso fresco uses a combination of cow and goat's milk. Additionally, queso fresco introduces rennet to the milk to separate the curds from the whey, per Wisconsin Cheese. Vegetarians can eat queso blanco, but not queso fresco.

The slightly salty, acidic, crumbly cheese is ideally consumed within a few days to taste it at peak quality. Masterclass recommends using it atop antojitos, or "little cravings," which are bite-sized snacks made by street vendors similar to tapas. Common antojitos include chilaquiles, chalupas, elotes, tlacoyos, and tamales. We also love substituting it for feta for a slightly milder flavor and softer texture.

Cotija cheese is also called the "Parmesan of Mexico" (Cheese.com). This cow's milk cheese has been made the same way since the 16th century, garnering it Denominacion de Origen or DDO status (via Mexico Cheese). Its name derives from its town of origin, Cotija de la Paz, located in the Mexican state of Michoacàn.

Traditional Michoacan-style cotija cheese is ultra-salty with a pungent smell and tough rind. It crumbles easily, and because it lacks moisture, it doesn't melt. Heated unpasteurized cow's milk, salt, and rennet combine to make this ingredient. Once strained and set into molds, it ages from three months to several years. Fresh cotija has a texture similar to ricotta salata, so it works well in salads or atop tacos. Older cotija becomes hard and is ideal for grating as a garnish over several dishes, including pasta.

There are three artisanal variations of note: Jalisco-style, Querétaro-style, and Chiapas-style. Jalisco-style cotija is more supple and can easily be cut into pieces to be thrown on the grill or into a pan for a quick sauté. Querétaro-style is also a firm cheese that works great for grilling or pan-frying, but it also has the unique property of a rind made of a combination of dried chilis, vinegar, and garlic. Chiapas-style cotija is the least salty of the bunch and has the firmest texture.

Panela — also known as "queso canasta" or "queso de la canasta" — translates to "basket cheese." The ingredient is thought to be a variation of a similar type of cheese found in Greece, according to Mexico Cheese. It gets its distinctive basket shape thanks to the way in which it is produced. After adding rennet, part-skim cow's milk becomes heated and separated into curds and whey. Once the curds are cut, separated, and salted, they're transferred into a basket to set.

This type of cheese belongs to the family of grilling cheeses, which includes Indian paneer and Greek halloumi. Grilling cheeses are notable for retaining their shape when exposed to heat without melting. Its flavor tends to be on the salty side. Although it doesn't have to, it can have a kind of squeaky property when you bite into it. When baked or fried, this cheese works well as a filling for sandwiches — like a cemita or torta — or it can be garnished with a spritz of lime juice and cilantro for an appetizer like Greek saganaki.

Queso Chihuahua is a cow's milk cheese historically produced by the Mennonite communities residing in the Northern Mexican region of Chihuahua (via Cheese.com). Often called Campresino Menonita, this semi-soft cow's milk cheese can come from pasteurized or raw milk. The term "campresino" distinguishes the cheesemaking method used by the Mennonites, which is a compression technique also used to manufacture cheddar cheese.

According to a study published in Science Direct, the flavor, and texture of this cheese varies between cheeses made with raw versus pasteurized milk. Seasonal times of the year can influence the fat and microbial content of the milk obtained from pastured cows. Typically, raw milk cheeses are gamier in flavor with a softer consistency than those made from pasteurized milk.

Regardless of origin, however, this cheese is consistently darker in color compared with many of the other cheeses produced in Mexico. Its amber hue is indicative of the butteriness that often characterizes this cheese. Its ability to melt is intrinsic to its utility in baked dishes like pizza, lasagna, or casseroles. Queso Chihuahua is also a great option for a classic cheese fondue.

According to On The Gas, queso asadero is a string-cheese-like product that originates from the state of Chihuahua in the northern part of Mexico. The ingredient uses a similar cheesemaking method as queso Oaxaca — namely the pasta filata method. While the two share similarities in texture, the flavor of asadero cheese is less mozzarella-like and more akin to a Monterey jack or provolone. It is also typically not as firm in texture as its Oaxacan cousin.

Asadero is generally sold in logs, sliced, or shredded (via Mexico Cheese). There is also a variation that embeds jalapeño chilis into the mix. Whichever way you purchase it, it is the ideal melting cheese and an essential component in a queso fundido — not to mention a fabulous cheese for homemade nachos. If you're planning on making a taco pizza, look no further than asadero as a base for this American classic.

According to Cheese.com, Chontaleno is a semi-hard cheese, made with pasteurized cow's milk. Although it is a Mexican cheese, it is categorized as being a part of the parmesan family thanks to its firm texture and salty flavor. As with other cheeses made in the parmesan style, it cannot be called real parmesan cheese since it isn't produced in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy using local milk and cheesemaking techniques in accordance with DOP certification.

That being said, its uses are similar to classic parmesan cheese. While it is a fabulous cheese to be included on a charcuterie board, it is also ideal to grate as a garnish over dishes like pasta. Additionally, chontaleno comes in a smoked variety known as "Ahumato," which has a marvelous robust flavor that pairs well with strong spices common in Mexican cuisine. (When we conducted a search for where to purchase this cheese, retailers selling it only had a Nicaraguan version of it, which we presume is similar in flavor and texture to the Mexican version.)

Botanero cheese is a soft, salty, raw cow's milk cheese native to the central highlands of northwest Mexico (via Life Persona). Its name comes from the Mexican word for "appetizer" or "botana." This cheese is frequently consumed with alcoholic beverages at parties. It is distinct in that it is often flavored by adding various chili peppers during the cheese-making process. Another variation involves the incorporation of a blend of Mexican herbs known as epazote, containing ham, sausage, sesame seeds, and more. Due to the use of milk obtained from a breed of Holstein cattle that favors the rainy season for milk production, this cheese is only available seasonally.

Considering how the raw milk production process of this cheese, it has a high preponderance of bacterial contamination. Some research suggests that the use of chilis may confer some antibacterial qualities. However, in its current form, caution is recommended prior to consumption.

Queso tenate is a semi-soft artisanal cow's milk cheese that has been produced for more than 100 years in the state of Tlaxacala, Mexico (via Mexico Cheese). The smallest state in Mexico, Tlaxacala is in the central portion of the country, in an area once inhabited by the Olmeca-Xicalanca civilization (via History). Part of the coat of arms of the region features green palm fronds, which represents victory. These palm fronds are an integral aspect of the craftsmanship involved in making tenate cheese.

The word "tenate" describes a basket woven of these victorious palm fronds in which the cheese is placed to age. As a result of this encasement, the cheese has a distinctive aroma redolent of palm fronds. It's rindless with a salty and buttery flavor. Most eat this cheese fresh. But a small quantity can be reserved for dry seasons. Tenate has a similar texture and utility to queso blanco.

Queso criollo is a specialty from Taxco, Guerrero (via Mexico Cheese). Per CNBC, the village of Taxco is known as one of Mexico's "pueblos magicos" or "magic villages." However, its stunning beauty might be outmatched by its unique culinary scene, where pozole is the focus. This dish of hominy and pork can only be made better with the addition of some queso criollo. This raw cow's milk cheese is one of the only yellow cheeses found in Mexico.

Its texture and flavor are so similar to a muenster cheese, so you can easily substitute one for the other. Although some international food distributors attempted to develop a commercial brand of criollo to export, it is seldom comparable in flavor or texture to the authentic version. It is recommended that if you are searching for a suitable alternative in a Mexican grocery store, opt for a queso chihuahua or a Mexican manchego.