83 Amazing Cheeses That Start With M

Worker from cheese factory producing mozzarella. Selective focus
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Written by Patrick MacFarland

Published: December 30, 2023

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Ah, cheese! Cheese is delicious. Many people on this planet would also love to open up a cheese shop. Unfortunately, if they love cheese so much, they may end up in financial ruin as they gobble up all the cheese and not have any to sell. There are so many cheeses out there — cow’s milk cheeses, goat’s milk cheese, and even sheep’s milk cheeses. It is a sight to behold when you learn about the cheeses that are out there for you to eat. It’s great to learn about them and then go to a cheese shop in your city and buy an obscure cheese you might find delicious.

So let’s get to it and explore the 83 amazing cheeses that start with M. We’ll give you the lowdown on some of the best “M” cheeses and right below, include a comprehensive list of all the amazing cheeses that start with M.

Mozzarella

fior di latte mozzarella

Mozzarella cheese hails from Italy and is also one of the most popular and widely used cheeses in the world.

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Undoubtedly one of the most famous cheeses in the world, mozzarella comes from southern Italy. Mozzarella is semi-soft and comes from either cow’s milk or buffalo’s milk. The buffalo’s milk mozzarella is usually called “Mozzarella di bufala.” Mozzarella is the cheese used in many pizzas, as well as in the Caprese salads. Lastly, mozzarella is a protected cheese in Italy.

Manchego

Spanish cheese manchego made from sheep milk

Manchego cheese is a protected cheese under Spain’s denominación de origen system and the EU’s PDO status.

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Hailing from the La Mancha region in Spain, Manchego cheese comes from the Manchega breed of sheep. It is usually aged between 60 days and two years before it hits the public. In addition, the name Manchego comes from the region where the sheep come from. Moreover, the cheese is a firm one with small, select holes throughout. Lastly, it is a whiteish color and like all sheep’s milk cheeses, usually has an interesting aftertaste to it.

Monterey Jack

Monterey Jack Cheese

There is a version of the Monterey Jack made with chili peppers called Pepper Jack.

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Hailing from California, Monterey Jack cheese is white and semi-hard. Made from cow’s milk, it is also known to have a little bit of sweetness with its mild flavor. Furthermore, Monterey Jack cheese is known to be an “All-American” cheese. The story of how the cheese came to be started with Franciscan friars in the Monterey, CA area during the 18th century. Businessman David Jacks started selling the cheese as “Jacks’ Cheese” but then renamed it “Monterey Jack.” One of the most common uses for Monterey Jack is putting it inside quesadillas and also burritos. Now that’s delish!

Munster

French Munster cheese and slices

Cheese experts determine that Munster cheese is best when it’s eaten in the summer and autumn.

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Many might think that the Munster cheese hails from Germany, more specifically Münster, Germany. But that is not true, Munster cheese is from the Vosges region in France and it’s named after the town in Alsace called Munster. It was there that monks produced the cheese and also kept it in their cellars to conserve and mature. Furthermore, the cheese is protected under the European Union’s Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée certification. There is also another cheese called muenster that hails from the US, and it is an imitation of the original Munster cheese.

Maasdam

cheese

The Maasdam cheese was renamed after the town of Maasdam, which is located in South Holland (a province in the Netherlands).

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The Maasdam cheese hails from one of the quintessential cheese countries of the world, the Netherlands. It’s made from cow’s milk and also aged for about four weeks. During the maturing process, the Maasdam cheese has holes, and as for its flavor — it is sweet and slightly nutty.

The history behind this cheese is quite fascinating because the Maasdam cheese was made as a competitor to the Emmentaler cheeses that hail from Switzerland. Lastly, the cheese was born around 1984 and it was originally called Leerdammer cheese.

Mascarpone

Tiramisu dessert and coffee cup on light background.

One can use mascarpone cheese in various desserts including tiramisu and also cheesecakes.

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Hailing from Italy, this soft cream cheese is mostly made from cow’s milk. Italy recognizes this cheese as a prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale, which means “traditional agri-food product.” This means that the cheese is protected from copycats or clones. Mascarpone cheese started its story in the Lombardy region of Italy in the late 16th century.

Furthermore, there are two theories about how it got its name. Firstly, the first theory can be from the mascarpa, which is a milk product made from the whey of a young cheese. Secondly, the other theory is mascapria, which means ricotta in the region’s dialect.

Marble Cheese

Marble cheese on a white background. Two triangles of cheese close up.

One of the most popular marble cheeses is a Red Windsor, which is a cheddar cheese that has red wine in it.

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The marble cheese started its history in the UK. Marble cheeses are usually blends of two different colored cheeses and when hardened, they come out with marbled patterns. In addition, these cheeses are usually made from cow’s milk.

Furthermore, the most popular marble cheese in the United States is a combination of Monterey Jack and Colby cheese. Of course, other combinations out there involve white and orange cheeses. There is also a Dutch marble cheese called Sage Derby that cheesemakers make with sage or other green plants.

Maytag Blue Cheese

Blue cheese isolated

Maytag Blue Cheese has the distinction of still being made by hand by local farms in Iowa.

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Blue cheese is just delicious, which is why Maytag Dairy Farms decided to produce their own blue cheese called Maytag Blue Cheese. Hailing from Iowa, the cheese’s history began in 1941 and was originally made from the milk of the farm’s Holstein cattle. The cheese is not pasteurized, nor is it a hard cheese.

Mimolette

Mimolette cheese wedge

President Charles de Gaulle of France called the Mimolette cheese his favorite.

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Hailing from France, Mimolette cheese comes from the city of Lille. Locals there call it Boule de Lille. The cheese had inspiration from Dutch Edam cheese when it was first made. King Louis XIV wanted the cheese to be made and thus French dairy farmers unveiled the new cheese but decided to use carrot juice and season it with annatto to make it different from the Dutch Edam cheese. The carrot juice and annatto are what make the cheese look orange. Mimolette cheese is special in so many ways but it is unique in that it is shaped like a sphere.

Mihaliç Peyniri

Sheep

Hailing from Turkish sheep, the Mihaliç Peyniri cheese is great for salads of all kinds.

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This delicious cheese hails from Turkey. The Mihaliç Peyniri cheese is made from sheep’s milk. Usually, the cheese is also stored in a brine. The cheese has a bit of elasticity because it’s put in hot water and stirred. Afterward, cheesemakers leave the cheese in the water so that it hardens to create a slightly elastic, but firm consistency. After this process, the cheese is salted and finally, dried. Cheesemakers then cut the cheese into various shapes, but most often it’s sliced or made into balls that can be put into salads or pasta.

Conclusion

And there you have it, these are some amazing cheeses that start with M. You can go to your favorite supermarket or also that delectable cheese shop and buy a few of these delicious cheeses. Moreover, if you want more options, take a look at the more comprehensive list below.

83 Amazing Cheeses That Start With M

  • Maasdam
  • Maaslander
  • Maconnais
  • Mahón
  • Mahali cheese
  • Marble cheese
  • Maredsous
  • Maribo
  • Maroilles
  • Mascarpone
  • Maytag Blue Cheese
  • Metsovone
  • Metton
  • Milleens
  • Millhouse Sheeps Cheese
  • Mimolette
  • Minas
  • Molbo
  • Mondseer
  • Mont des Cats
  • Montafoner Sauerkäse
  • Monte Veronese
  • Monterey Jack
  • Moonshine Farm Cheese
  • Moose Cheese
  • Morbier
  • Morlacco
  • Mossfield Organic Farm
  • Mount Callan Cheddar
  • Mozzarella
  • Munster
  • Majorero
  • Manouri
  • Mató
  • Mizithra
  • Manchego
  • Mihaliç Peyniri
  • Macagn
  • Maccagno
  • Madonie Provola
  • Maggot cheese
  • Magnocca
  • Magnùn
  • Magro di piatta
  • Maiorchino
  • Malga
  • Manteca
  • Maria provolone di Potenza
  • Marzolina
  • Marzolino
  • Marzotica
  • Mascarpin de la Calza
  • Mascarpa
  • Mattone
  • Mattonella al rosmarino
  • Matusc o Magro di latteria
  • Mezzapasta – Piedmont
  • Millefoglie all’aceto balsamico or Marzemino
  • Misto
  • Moesin di Fregona
  • Mollana della Val Borbera
  • Moncenisio
  • Montagna
  • Montanello (Caciotta dolce)
  • Montasio
  • Monte Baldo
  • Monte Baldo primo fiore
  • Monte delle Dolomiti
  • Montébore
  • Montegranero
  • Morello
  • Morlâc
  • Mortrett (Murtret)
  • Mortaràt
  • Motelì
  • Motta
  • Mottolina
  • Mottolino
  • Murazzano
  • Mursin
  • Murtarat
  • Musulupu
  • Mustela


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About the Author

Patrick Macfarland is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering travel, geography, and history. Patrick has been writing for more than 10 years. In the past, he has been a teacher and a political candidate. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from SDSU and a Master's Degree in European Union Studies from CIFE. From San Diego, California, Patrick loves to travel and try new recipes to cook.

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