Havarti

Havarti (Danish pronunciation: [hæˈvɑːtsʰi]) or cream havarti (Danish: flødehavarti) is a semisoft Danish cow's milk cheese. It can be sliced, grilled, or melted.[2]

Havarti
Other namescream Havarti, flødehavarti
Country of originDenmark
RegionHovedstaden
TownØverød
Source of milkCow
TextureSemi-soft
Fat content38
Aging time3 months
CertificationHavarti PGI (Oct. 2019)[1]
Related media on Wikimedia Commons

History

In the 1800s, Hanne Nielsen (1829–1903) traveled around Europe to learn cheesemaking.[3] Nielsen's farm was in Havarthigaard, north of Copenhagen, and in 1852, after returning from her travels, she developed the technique to create havarti, a semi-firm cheese dotted with small holes.[4][5]

The original havarti cheese is different from flødehavarti ("cream Havarti"),[6] which is made from high-pasteurized milk, so that the whey proteins that would otherwise be eliminated during production remain in the curd. This raises yields, but alters the taste and texture. Cream havarti usually ripens very little, since the remaining whey proteins cause problems (off-taste, odd appearance) during prolonged ripening.

Description

Havarti is made like most cheeses, by introducing rennet to milk to cause curdling. The curds are pressed into cheese molds which are drained, and then the cheese is aged.

Havarti was traditionally a smear-rind cheese, but modern flødehavarti is not.[6] Havarti is a washed-curd cheese, which contributes to the subtle flavor of the cheese. Havarti is an interior-ripened cheese that is rindless, smooth, and slightly bright-surfaced with a cream to yellow color depending on type. It has very small and irregular openings called eyes distributed throughout.

Havarti has a buttery aroma and can be somewhat sharp in the stronger varieties, much like Swiss cheese. The taste is buttery, from somewhat to very sweet, and slightly acidic. It is typically aged about three months, though when the cheese is older, it becomes more salty and tastes like hazelnut. When left at room temperature, the cheese tends to soften quickly.

Flavored variants of havarti are available, such as cranberry, garlic, caraway, dill, basil, coconut, sour cream, chives, bacon, red pepper, and jalapeño.

Production

In 2013 18,900 metric tons were produced in Denmark.[6] As of 2019, 17,000 metric tons are produced annually in Denmark, of which 3,000 to 4,000 metric tons are consumed domestically.[1] In 2015 17,700 metric tons were produced in Wisconsin and 7,400 in Canada. In 2018 Wisconsin produced 18,400 metric tons and Canada 7,500 metric tons.[6]

Less than half of the world production is made in Denmark.[7] Other major producers in the EU are Germany and Spain.[1] Internationally, the main producers are the United States and Canada, with other producing countries including Finland, Poland, France, Australia and New Zealand.[6][7] In the United States the main producing state is by far Wisconsin, with other producing states being California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington.[6] The Danish multinational Arla Foods produces the cheese for the American market in Wisconsin from milk produced in Wisconsin.[6][7]

Havarti is one of twelve cheeses whose characteristics and manufacturing standards are registered in the Codex Alimentarius as of 2019.[6]

Consumption

It has become a staple foodstuff in Denmark.[7]

Nutrition

For 1 slice weighing 28 g:

Controversy

In October 2019 the EU granted exclusive Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) rights to Denmark after four years of lobbying by the Danish industry. It may now only be produced from Danish milk and at approved dairies, for it to be sold in the EU and countries with which it has signed a trade agreement recognising EU PGI rules on cheese (specifically South Korea).[1][7][8] There was vehement opposition and pressure from the US against recognition,[9][10] which earlier compelled the EU to postpone the planned PGI status fearing it might be deemed too provocative amidst indications of a political backlash from the United States.[10][11]

The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), an industry alliance based in Virginia, United States, representing exporting interests founded by the U.S. Dairy Export Council to fight EU geographical indication guidelines[8][12][13] expressed outrage over the 2019 EU decision to reserve the name for Denmark, claiming the PGI status is not "legitimate intellectual property protection, but instead for barely concealed protectionism for economic gain". The United States, Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay and Argentina have joined with the CCFN to overturn the decision.[1][7] The CCFN has claimed that havarti is a generic cheese,[6][14] and that the EU is trying to "egregiously ... monopolise global trade" in this and many other traditional European products, and is disregarding "established international standards".[6] The CCFN demands that EU PGIs are amended to include the name of the region where it is produced, such that only the name "Danish havarti" is protected,[6][7][8] a proposal Danish producers are amenable to. Danish producers contend it is domestically well known as a Danish cheese and knowledge of the cheese outside Denmark is "extremely limited".[7] The CCFN has urged the Trump administration to sanction the EU for its "abuses".[6]

See also

References
  1. Christian W (25 October 2019). "Havarti cheese can now only be produced in Denmark". Online Post. Copenhagen. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. "Danish Havarti". www.cheesemonthclub.com. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  3. "Culture: the word on cheese". culturecheesemag.com. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  4. "Havarti Cheese". itscheese.com. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  5. "Danish Havarti". www.cheesemonthclub.com. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  6. Consortium for Common Food Names (24 October 2019). "CCFN: Major Cheese-Producing Nations Stand Firm Against EU Geographical Indications". Perishable News. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  7. Harris, Rob (25 October 2019). "Cheese blue: Australia joins fightback over EU's Havarti protection". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  8. "Names at Risk". CCFN – Consortium for Common Food Names. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  9. Lewis, Sara (23 October 2019). "Havarti cheese officially recognised as protected geographical indication in the EU". Agribusiness Intelligence - IEG Policy (Informa PLC). London. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  10. Horseman, Chris (27 March 2019). "EU set to trigger new row over GIs with registration of Havarti cheese". Agribusiness Intelligence - IEG Policy (Informa PLC). London. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  11. Horseman, Chris (11 April 2019). "EU postpones Havarti PGI plans amid US trade tensions". Agribusiness Intelligence - IEG Policy (Informa PLC). London. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  12. "About Us". CCFN – Consortium for Common Food Names. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  13. Shawna Morris, Thomas Lividini (2018). Comments by the U.S. Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) and the US Dairy Export Council (USDEC) regarding proposed amendments to the European Union Geographical Indications Legislation on Foodstuffs (Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs (Report). Consortium for Common Food Names and the US Dairy Export Council. p. 1-4. Retrieved 28 October 2019.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  14. Hosking, Mike (28 October 2019). "Dairy industry up in arms over EU's plans for Havarti cheese". Newstalk ZB. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.