Cheese Quiz

Question 1

How many varieties of cheese does France reportedly produce?

Accepted Answer

Over 400

Answer

Over 100

Answer

Over 200

Answer

Over 1,000

Question 2

Roquefort cheese must be aged in caves in which French region?

Accepted Answer

Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, Aveyron

Answer

Normandy

Answer

Burgundy

Answer

Alsace

Question 3

What is the difference between hard and soft cheeses in terms of moisture?

Accepted Answer

Hard cheeses have lower moisture content (pressed and aged longer); soft cheeses have higher moisture

Answer

Hard cheeses are older; soft cheeses are younger only

Answer

The distinction is purely about shape

Answer

Soft cheeses always use goat's milk

Question 4

Halloumi is a firm, squeaky cheese that is famously grilled or fried. It originates from which island?

Accepted Answer

Cyprus

Answer

Sardinia

Answer

Malta

Answer

Crete

Question 5

What animal's milk is Manchego cheese traditionally made from?

Accepted Answer

Sheep

Answer

Cow

Answer

Goat

Answer

Buffalo

Question 6

What is 'affinage' in the context of cheesemaking?

Accepted Answer

The maturing and ageing of cheese — the art of turning young cheese into a finished product

Answer

The initial curdling process

Answer

Adding mould cultures to blue cheese

Answer

The final coating of wax or cloth

Answer

The curdling of milk

Question 7

Which country consumes the most cheese per capita in the world?

Accepted Answer

Greece

Answer

France

Answer

Italy

Answer

Denmark

Question 8

What gives blue cheeses like Gorgonzola and Stilton their characteristic blue-green veins?

Accepted Answer

Penicillium mould spores introduced to the cheese and allowed to grow through air channels

Answer

Food colouring added during production

Answer

Natural oxidation of the cheese over time

Answer

Mineral deposits from cave ageing

Question 9

Gruyère originates from which country?

Accepted Answer

Switzerland

Answer

France

Answer

Austria

Answer

Germany

Question 10

What is the texture and taste profile of fresh mozzarella di bufala (buffalo mozzarella)?

Accepted Answer

Soft, milky, slightly tangy, and elastic — releasing cream when cut

Answer

Firm, mild, and slightly rubbery like block mozzarella

Answer

Hard, salty, and crumbly like feta

Answer

Spreadable and strongly flavoured

Question 11

Which English cheese is named after a village in Somerset where it was traditionally sold rather than made?

Accepted Answer

Cheddar

Answer

Red Leicester

Answer

Wensleydale

Answer

Double Gloucester

Question 12

What is cheese fondue traditionally made from and which countries are most associated with it?

Accepted Answer

Gruyère and Emmental melted in white wine — Switzerland and France

Answer

Cheddar and beer — UK and Ireland

Answer

Mozzarella in tomato sauce — Italy

Answer

Gouda melted with mustard — Netherlands

Question 13

Burrata is a fresh Italian cheese. How does it differ from mozzarella?

Accepted Answer

It has a mozzarella shell filled with stracciatella and cream

Answer

It is aged for 6 months; mozzarella is fresh

Answer

It is made from sheep's milk; mozzarella from buffalo

Answer

It is smoked; mozzarella is not

Question 14

Which Scandinavian cheese is brown, sweet, and made from whey?

Accepted Answer

Brunost

Answer

Jarlsberg

Answer

Havarti

Answer

Räucherkäse

Question 15

What is 'pasteurisation' in the context of cheese, and why do some artisan cheesemakers prefer raw milk?

Accepted Answer

Heating milk to kill pathogens; raw milk cheesemakers argue pasteurisation kills flavour-giving microorganisms

Answer

Adding salt to preserve cheese; artisans prefer no salt

Answer

Ageing cheese in cool cellars; raw milk is aged at room temperature

Answer

A French technique for adding cultures

Question 16

Pecorino Romano is an ancient Italian sheep's milk cheese. 'Pecorino' means what in Italian?

Accepted Answer

Of sheep

Answer

Hard cheese

Answer

Roman-style

Answer

Salt-cured

Question 17

Emmental cheese — known for its large holes — comes from which country?

Accepted Answer

Switzerland

Answer

Netherlands

Answer

France

Answer

Denmark

Question 18

What is 'affinage' in cheese — and what does a 'fromager-affineur' do?

Accepted Answer

Specialises in maturing and developing cheeses, creating optimal ageing conditions for each variety

Answer

Makes cheese from scratch

Answer

Sells cheese wholesale

Answer

Adds flavourings after production

Question 19

Which blue cheese is made in Stilton, Leicestershire, and has PDO protection in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Stilton

Answer

Dolcelatte

Answer

Gorgonzola

Answer

Bleu d'Auvergne

Question 20

The term 'cheese' in 'big cheese' (meaning an important person) — where does this slang phrase originate?

Accepted Answer

From the Urdu/Hindi word 'chiz' meaning 'thing' — 'the real chiz' meaning the real thing

Answer

From the size of wheels of Parmesan, indicating wealth

Answer

From Victorian England's cheese-rolling festivals rewarding the winner

Answer

From Napoleon's fondness for demanding the finest cheeses