Cheese Heroes - Kapiti Ramara

A 100% cow's milk washed rind cheese with strong, earthy, ambrosial aromas and a sticky, gooey texture; Kapiti Ramara is the ultimate cheese lover's cheese.

Distinguishable by both its sticky, orange rind and pungent, ambrosial aroma, Kapiti Ramara is a beautiful washed rind cheese made in the traditional French style. The method has been used since the Middle Ages. Starting life as a camembert style cheese, the final result is very different thanks to the gradual washing of the rind with brine, which encourages the 100% cow's milk cheese to ripen with surface mould. 

The process produces an earthy, yeasty cheese with a slightly sweet, mild and buttery flavour. Its texture thickens with age meaning younger cheeses are delicately soft whilst mature versions are flowing and gooey. The cheese is perfectly balanced in both texture and aroma, and pairs excellently with a fruity Pinot Noir. Serve baked as in the photograph and dip chunks of fresh bread, or simply at room temperature with figs, quince jelly and crackers. 

Kapiti Ramara is available in all good supermarkets nationwide, and online from the Kapiti Store.