The French have a great saying: “Ferme ta boite au camembert, tu l’auras pour ton desert” meaning “Shut your box of camembert, or you’ll have it (wear it) for your dessert”. They know that one of their best-selling cheeses, when not refrigerated after a day, smells like somebody’s left sweaty socks in a room, that has been closed all day. It doesn’t smell like that before but after yes.
The truth is that camembert is not the whiffiest smelling cheese. So we are here to celebrate, those that are whiffier or on the nose.
Gruyere– a hard dark yellow cheese from Switzerland, probably not on many lists, and the least smelliest on the list, still this one has a strong smell
Parmesan– many people turn a blind eye (or a nose without smell) to the disgusting smell that this cheese leaves in the air. As usual at its worst when it heats up, I don’t know many other cheeses that actually smell of vomit.
Pecorino– a smelly sheep’s cheese from Italy
Gorgonzola– a stinky Italian blue cheese, again a bit on the nose
Camembert– not too bad when refrigerated but when you let it get warm and give it plenty air, you definitely know there is some Camembert somewhere in the vicinity
Roquefort– a very strong flavoured and smelling blue cheese, it has been banned in some countries
Limburger– the bacteria in this cheese from Germany is the same bacteria that causes body odour. No doubt it smells the worst when warm.
Epoisses de Bourgogne– the entry from Burgundy in France, it is so smelly that it was banned on public transport ( the Durian of the cheese world)
Vieux Bologne– usually voted one of the 2 smelliest cheeses in the world, the secret ingredient that apparently makes it smell so bad is that the rind is washed with brandy
Pont l’Eveque– Normandy is the place with the greatest amount of smelly cheeses in the world. Like it’s predecessor Vieux Bologne it’s rind is also an alcohol washed rind, it is best described as pungent and deserved smelly cheese award winner
These cheeses may be 10 of the most smelliest, and a bit on the nose. Many of them will also have a strong taste. The best way to wash down the taste or pair it to enhance the disgusting good strong flavour is with a good wine. Make sure you have them handy, but careful don’t breath in any innocent persons direction. They don’t deserve your breath.
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