Crescenza Cheese

Native to Italy, this variety of cheese is very similar to an Italian stracchino cheese. Made from whole cow's milk, Crescenza is a fresh cheese that matures for only 2 to 5 days before being sold. As it ages for no longer than 1 to 2 weeks, the cheese expands in size, thus the origin of the name crescere, which translated means "to grow" in Italian. Sold fresh, Crescenza has a moist texture with a acidic flavor, somewhat similar to yogurt. The cheese was first made in Lombardy, Italy and areas adjacent to this northern Italy city where it is commonly served as a snacking or appetizer cheese with fruit, aged meats, olives, and bread. Crescenza Cheese is also a good dessert cheese as well as a cheese used for fillings in various stuffed pastas.