Taleggio is a soft, salt-washed cheese from the Val Taleggio region, near Lombardy in Northern Italy.

While often "smelly" it is surprisingly mild in flavour, buttery and creamy with a slightly tangy and fruity finish.
This piece was soft and moist but still a little firm in texture. It can be oozy soft and makes a wonderful spread on crusty bread. It's also at home melted into risotto or grilled over a gourmet burger.

I purchase this Taleggio and my other beloved cheeses from Martin and Sarah Aspinwall at Canterbury Cheesemongers. Sadly their shop was demolished as a result of the September 4 Earthquake. However while they look at setting up new premises thankfully their cheeses are still available via mail-order and several temporary spots on Fridays and Saturdays - check their website www.cheesemongers.co.nz for details.