# Strongest/Strangest Cheese You Ever Had **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 30, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803 "2011-12-30T05:56:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/21 "2011-12-31T08:50:34Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > Every time I see people eating cheese with maggots in it (and their poo) on TV food shows, though I love all kinds of cheese, I just can’t see myself eating the stuff ever, regardless of how great of cheese everyone might tell me or how unsophisticated I might come through as… > > Would you eat or have you had any cheese with live maggots (or dead, I suppose) in them (they are supposedly extremely strong/ammoniated)? The cheese in question is the Sardinian [Casu marzu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casu_marzu) and is basically a vehicle for food poisoning. It was banned by the EU for a time but is allowed under the “traditional food” exception. I think Casu marzu might be banned from importation into the US but I’m not sure. Nonetheless, it’s considered a delicacy even though its consumption seems more appropriate for a stunt on “Fear Factor” or “Jackass”. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/22 "2011-12-31T12:50:33Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > [Liederkranz](http://www.jsonline.com/business/89242162.html) was recently re-invented. It’s not quite as stinky as a good limburger, but it’s pretty close. > > Nice flavor, when you can get past the smell. Aren’t you the guy who has that huge pail of Vegemite?:p:D ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/23 "2011-12-31T12:58:39Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > The cheese in question is the Sardinian [Casu marzu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casu_marzu) and is basically a vehicle for food poisoning. It was banned by the EU for a time but is allowed under the “traditional food” exception. I think Casu marzu might be banned from importation into the US but I’m not sure. Nonetheless, it’s considered a delicacy even though its consumption seems more appropriate for a stunt on “Fear Factor” or “Jackass”. OK, now THAT freaked me out. I love cheese but that goes beyond the pale. Egads, live larvae! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/46a35a/32.png) [@UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UFC_Is_Sux)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/24 "2011-12-31T13:33:06Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > Every time I see people eating cheese with maggots in it (and their poo) on TV food shows, though I love all kinds of cheese, I just can’t see myself eating the stuff ever, regardless of how great of cheese everyone might tell me or how unsophisticated I might come through as… > > Would you eat or have you had any cheese with live maggots (or dead, I suppose) in them (they are supposedly extremely strong/ammoniated)? Considering that maggot therapy for debridement of wounds on the human corpus is making a bit of a [comeback](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggot_therapy) these days, I don’t find it outrageously strange that you might have to wipe them off as you consume cheese. Not that I ever would of course - the ick factor is just too high for me. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/25 "2011-12-31T15:14:43Z")
I’m not eating any maggot cheese if I have a choice in the matter. I like a good strong cheese like limburger or gorgonzola or an aged brie but nothing too unusual there. I did have some chocolate cheese recently. I guess that counts as somewhat strange. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/26 "2011-12-31T17:15:58Z")
I never found out the name of it, but I bought a well-wrapped wedge of soft cheese in a tiny Slovenian shop once, took it home, unwrapped it, wrapped it straight back up, took it outside, and threw it off a cliff into the sea. Wow. It smelled like petrol. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/27 "2011-12-31T18:55:41Z")
The strongest cheeses I ever had were triple cream cheese and Roquefort. Way to strong for me. I tried Limburger once. I didn’t think it was all that smelly, maybe I got the wrong brand? ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/28 "2011-12-31T21:22:10Z")
Do you think humans, perhaps subconsciously, like toe jam odor? Sorry… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/29 "2012-01-01T01:02:57Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > The cheese in question is the Sardinian [Casu marzu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casu_marzu)… A thread on the stuff, with a link to yet an earlier one: [Quite possibly the most disgusting cheese ever - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=626911) Inspired by Wallace and Gromit, I special-ordered a small wedge of Stinking Bishop cheese one summer a few years back, and it was pretty stinky (and a major attraction to wasps in the area) but not all that pungent on the tongue. Presented as a public service: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3KBuQHHKx0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3KBuQHHKx0) ---
**Author:** ![PAUL\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5fc32e/32.png) [@PAUL\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PAUL_S)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/30 "2012-01-01T02:25:36Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir; Inspired by Wallace and Gromit, I special-ordered a small wedge of Stinking Bishop cheese one summer a few years back, and it was pretty stinky (and a major attraction to wasps in the area) but not all that pungent on the tongue. Personally I’ve never found Stinking Bishop to have much of a pong. I think of it as resembling a ripe Camembert or Brie. BTW, it takes its name “Stinking Bishop” from the variety of pear tree whence comes the perry in which it is steeped, not because of any strong smell. Best wishes, Paul ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/31 "2012-01-01T04:48:18Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > A thread on the stuff, with a link to yet an earlier one: [Quite possibly the most disgusting cheese ever - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=626911)] Incidentally, the fact this passage below is part of the Wikipedia article on casu marzu should tell you something. [QUOTE=Wikipedia] Larvae, if eaten alive (accidentally or otherwise), can pass through the digestive system alive (human stomach acids do not usually kill them) and live for some time in the intestines. This is referred to as an enteric myiasis. Fruit fly larvae are a leading cause of myiasis in humans, and are the insect most frequently found in the human intestine. The larvae can cause serious intestinal lesions as they attempt to bore through the intestinal walls. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, and bloody diarrhea. Living and dead larvae may pass in the stool. [/QUOTE] And you can’t get this cheese in the U.S.? Damn government regulation is out of control! ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/32 "2012-01-01T07:26:28Z")
Stilton is probably the worst I’ve had. I’m not big on cheese to start with, and any aged or “aromatic” cheese (especially blue cheeses" are right out. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/33 "2012-01-01T20:28:40Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > Stilton is probably the worst I’ve had. You’ve led a sheltered life. (Though I don’t consider it intense, I loves me some good Stilton.) ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/34 "2012-01-01T20:35:08Z")
Probably a washed-rind cheese like Epoisses. Soft, salty, and very stinky. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/35 "2012-01-02T02:54:06Z")
Limburger. Never again. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/36 "2012-01-02T03:31:25Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > [Epoisses](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89poisses_de_Bourgogne) is supposed to be among the most powerful-smelling of all cheeses. I didn’t find it as strong as its reputation suggested - but the flavor is excellent. This was available at an NYE party I was at last night. Taste wise it was wonderful. But in getting some to my plate I made the mistake of touching it. Five hours later, despite two handwashings and having touched plenty of other food with the same two fingers I recoiled any time my hand got too close to my nose. It is super strong smelling, but what smell is there is pretty funky. Worse, occasionally throughout the evening the smell would rise up the back of my throat for a repeat performance without the benefit of the great taste. This morning, almost 12 hours after having touched it I could still smell it. Fortunately a shower finally got rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/37 "2012-01-02T03:36:57Z")
Gjetost is interesting. It’s caramelized norwegian goat cream cheese. It’s sort of sweet and kind of burny, but not in a capsaicin or horseradish way. More like mild battery acid. Or a 9 volt battery. I like it. Usually. Don’t eat if if you’ve recently burned the roof of your mouth on hot pizza, though. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/38 "2012-01-02T15:14:10Z")
[QUOTE=PAUL S] Personally I’ve never found Stinking Bishop to have much of a pong. I think of it as resembling a ripe Camembert or Brie. BTW, it takes its name “Stinking Bishop” from the variety of pear tree whence comes the perry in which it is steeped, not because of any strong smell. Best wishes, Paul [/QUOTE] Stinking Bishop is a rind-washed cheese - these do tend to emit a whiffy blast when they are first unwrapped, but the cheese itself is usually creamy and fairly mild. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/39 "2012-01-02T15:42:58Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Gjetost is interesting. It’s caramelized norwegian goat cream cheese. It’s sort of sweet and kind of burny, but not in a capsaicin or horseradish way. More like mild battery acid. Or a 9 volt battery. > > I like it. Usually. > > Don’t eat if if you’ve recently burned the roof of your mouth on hot pizza, though. Odd. It doesn’t taste anything like that to me. It tastes like cheesy caramel–more like candy than like cheese. Or fudge. At least the Ski Queen brand does. All it is, basically, is boiled down whey (usually from goat milk or a mix of goat and other milk) until it caramelizes into a fudge-like consistency. I love blue cheeses of all sorts, as well as camemberts and cheeses in that sort of stink category, so none of those are going to ping my stink-o-meter. However, the Hungarian [Palpusztai cheese](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A1lpusztai_cheese) is in the Limburger family, and that’s one I haven’t quite gotten used to yet. That’s the most revolting cheese I’ve ever had, although I only had it once, and it’s been at least ten years, so it’s possible my tastes have changed. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803/40 "2012-01-02T17:09:43Z")
Roquefort is pretty strong. Not too horrible, but overwhelming for me, like blue cheese on steroids. Stinkiest cheese I ever smelled was in Spain. I was at a friend’s house, and when we entered her bedroom a terrible smell of unwashed feet hit me. I didn’t want to say anything for fear of embarrassing my friend about her personal hygiene habits, but then I discovered that the smell was actually coming from a wedge of hard Spanish cheese she had left on her desk. _Worst_ cheese I ever had was some sort of vegan nut cheese abomination at a vegan cafe another friend dragged me to. I can’t even describe what it tasted like. I don’t know if this has ever happened to anybody else, but I had actual sensory flashbacks where my mouth would suddenly taste the cheese again days later. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-strangest-cheese-you-ever-had/607803.md?page=3)