Havarti
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Short description Template:Infobox Cheese
Havarti (Template:IPA) or cream Havarti (Template:Langx) is a semisoft Danish cow's milk cheese. It can be sliced, grilled, or melted.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
History
Havarti was previously called "Danish Tilsiter" after the German cheese type tilsiter.<ref name="Shift">Template:Cite journal</ref> Danish production began in 1921.<ref name="FVS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1952, the cheese was named Havarti, after Havartigården near Holte, where the Danish cheese pioneer Hanne Nielsen worked in the 19th century.<ref name="KD">Template:Cite news</ref> Among other cheeses, Nielsen created a Tilsit cheese with caraway for King Christian IX of Denmark.<ref name="Shift" />
Some sources, such as The Oxford Companion to Cheese, say that Nielsen invented Havarti cheese,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while the Dansk Biografisk Leksikon states that the current Havarti is not based on her cheesemaking.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The original Havarti cheese is different from flødehavarti ("cream Havarti"),<ref name=Perishable>Template:Cite news</ref> which is made from high-pasteurized milk, so that the whey proteins that would otherwise be eliminated during production remain in the curd. This raises yields, but alters the taste and texture. Cream Havarti usually ripens very little, since the remaining whey proteins cause problems (off-taste, odd appearance) during prolonged ripening.Template:Fact
Description
Havarti is made like most cheeses, by introducing rennet to milk to cause curdling. The curds are pressed into cheese molds which are drained, and then the cheese is aged.
Havarti was traditionally a smear-rind cheese, but modern flødehavarti is not.<ref name=Perishable/> Havarti is a washed-curd cheese, which contributes to the subtle flavor of the cheese. Havarti is an interior-ripened cheese that is rindless, smooth, and slightly bright-surfaced with a cream to yellow color depending on type. It has very small and irregular openings called eyes distributed throughout.
Havarti has a buttery aroma and can be somewhat sharp in the stronger varieties, much like Swiss-type cheeses. The taste is buttery, from somewhat to very sweet, and slightly acidic, similar in taste to mozzarella. It is typically aged about three months, though when the cheese is older, it becomes more salty and tastes like hazelnut. When left at room temperature, the cheese tends to soften quickly.Template:Fact
Flavored variants of Havarti are available.
Production
In 2013, 18,900 metric tons were produced in Denmark.<ref name=Perishable/> As of 2019, 17,000 metric tons are produced annually in Denmark, of which 3,000 to 4,000 metric tons are consumed domestically.<ref name=cphpost/> In 2015, 17,700 metric tons were produced in Wisconsin and 7,400 in Canada. In 2018, Wisconsin produced 18,400 metric tons and Canada 7,500 metric tons.<ref name=Perishable/>
Less than half of the world production is made in Denmark.<ref name=Sydney>Template:Cite news</ref> Other major producers in the EU are Germany and Spain.<ref name=cphpost/> Internationally, the main producers are the United States and Canada, with other producing countries including Finland, Poland, France, Australia and New Zealand.<ref name=Perishable/><ref name=Sydney/> In the United States, the main producing state by far is Wisconsin, with other producing states being California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington.<ref name=Perishable/> The Danish multinational Arla Foods produces the cheese for the American market in Wisconsin from milk produced in Wisconsin.<ref name=Perishable/><ref name=Sydney/>
Havarti is one of twelve cheeses whose characteristics and manufacturing standards are registered in the Codex Alimentarius as of 2019.<ref name=Perishable/>
Consumption
It has become a staple foodstuff in Denmark.<ref name=Sydney/>
Nutrition
For one slice weighing 28 g:
- Food energy: Template:Convert
- Protein: 6.0 g
- Carbohydrate: 0.0 g
- Total fat: 11.0 g
- Fiber: 0.0 g
- Calcium: 150 mg
Controversy
In October 2019, the EU granted exclusive Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) rights to Denmark after four years of lobbying by the Danish industry. It may now only be produced from Danish milk and at approved dairies, for it to be sold in the EU and countries with which it has signed a trade agreement recognising EU PGI rules on cheese (specifically South Korea).<ref name=cphpost/><ref name=Sydney/><ref name=CCFNrisk>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There was vehement opposition and pressure from the US against recognition,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=AgribusiIntelMarch>Template:Cite news</ref> which earlier compelled the EU to postpone the planned PGI status fearing it might be deemed too provocative amidst indications of a political backlash from the United States.<ref name=AgribusiIntelMarch/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), an industry alliance based in Virginia, United States, representing exporting interests founded by the U.S. Dairy Export Council to fight EU geographical indication guidelines<ref name=CCFNrisk/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> expressed outrage over the 2019 EU decision to reserve the name for Denmark, claiming the PGI status is not "legitimate intellectual property protection, but instead for barely concealed protectionism for economic gain". The United States, Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay and Argentina have joined with the CCFN to overturn the decision.<ref name=cphpost/><ref name=Sydney/> The CCFN has claimed that Havarti is a generic cheese,<ref name=Perishable/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and that the EU is trying to "egregiously ... monopolise global trade" in this and many other traditional European products, and is disregarding "established international standards".<ref name=Perishable/> The CCFN demands that EU PGIs are amended to include the name of the region where it is produced, such that only the name "Danish Havarti" is protected,<ref name=Perishable/><ref name=Sydney/><ref name=CCFNrisk/> a proposal Danish producers are amenable to. Danish producers contend it is domestically well known as a Danish cheese and knowledge of the cheese outside Denmark is "extremely limited".<ref name=Sydney/> The CCFN urged the Trump administration to sanction the EU for its "abuses".<ref name=Perishable/>