While you may love cheese like I do, and you may have tried an assortment throughout your travels, every once in a while you are lucky enough to find that special something. UnieKaas Parrano cheese is that special cheese! Parrano, an aged Gouda-style Dutch cheese, was created about 12 years ago, by UnieKaas, which is the largest Dutch cheese company. It is made in Holland, from pasteurized Dutch cow’s milk and has a special semi sweet, nutty flavor that is easy to eat and tastes great on English water crackers. I was lucky enough to come across this cheese at my local specialty store that has a great selection of cheeses. While there are more expensive cheeses then this one, this is something you can keep in your refrigerator at all times, and go-to when you are hosting guests.

“It’s made like a Gouda, but it has the flavor of true Parmesan,” says Steven Margarites, who markets the cheese in the United States. Margarites says Parrano is made with “the same cultures used in Parmesan.” Even though it has a slightly sweet impression on your palate, it contains no measurable sugar. We get this slightly sweet sensation from the result of the breakdown of the proteins and fats as the cheese matures. You can enjoy Parrano as a dessert cheese, with some toasted hazelnuts and a glass of Sercial or Verdelho Madeira. To celebrate the love for this cheese, you can visit DaLuca Straps.