Cheese story
What is Chhena?
A fresh curd cheese central to many Bengali and Odia sweets.
Origin
Eastern India, India
Milk
cow or buffalo
Board role
Fresh / bright
Cheese profile
Country
India
Region
Eastern India
Milk type
cow or buffalo
Texture
fresh acid-set curd
Rind
none
Ageing
fresh
Vegetarian
Usually vegetarian-friendly
Milk treatment
usually yes
Flavour profile: mild, moist, milky
Origin, protection and character
Chhena comes from India, especially Eastern India. Its character comes from the balance of milk, texture, rind, ageing and local serving traditions.
Protected status
None
Typical ageing
fresh
How to serve Chhena
rasgulla, sandesh, sweets
Good food matches
sugar syrup
cardamom
pistachio
Serving tip
Take it out of the fridge before serving so the texture softens and the flavour opens up. Softer cheeses usually need less time than hard aged cheeses.
Buying tip
Look for clean aroma, good texture and a style that matches the board: fresh and bright, soft and creamy, hard and nutty, blue and salty, or bold and washed-rind.
