If I ask for Swiss cheese at a deli, I get asked, American or Imported? Well, I say, how about from Switzerland? I said ‘imported’ one day, and received Swiss cheese from Ireland, of all places.
Has the term ‘Swiss cheese’ become generic? or, is Swiss cheese just a certain type of cheese…kind of like there is yellow American cheese and and white American cheese. If I were in Switzerland, could I get American Swiss cheese? What’s up with this?
For all intents and purposes, its a type. Basically because the Swiss have apparently failed (if they tried) to get any international agreements to the contrary. Malt whiskey can only be called Scotch if its made in Scotland - by international agreement. The same used to be true of sparkling wine and Champagne, but recently Ive seen ‘Champagne’ from some Cal wineries, so Im not sure if that particular agreement is still in effect or if the grapes were imported (which I doubt).
Yep, Swiss is just a generic type of Cheese. Just like Cheddar isn’t just made in Cheddar any more but is used for the name of any Cheddar type cheese.