Cheese story
What is Mascarpone?
A rich Italian cream cheese famous for tiramisu and luxurious sauces.
Origin
Lombardy, Italy
Milk
cow cream
Board role
Fresh / bright
Cheese profile
Country
Italy
Region
Lombardy
Milk type
cow cream
Texture
fresh cream cheese
Rind
none
Ageing
fresh
Vegetarian
Check the rennet / producer
Milk treatment
yes
Flavour profile: rich, sweet, buttery, creamy
Origin, protection and character
Mascarpone comes from Italy, especially Lombardy. Its character comes from the balance of milk, texture, rind, ageing and local serving traditions.
Protected status
PAT in Italy
Typical ageing
fresh
How to serve Mascarpone
tiramisu, sauces, desserts, risotto
Good food matches
coffee
cocoa
berries
dessert wine
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.
