What are you cooking?
What this solves
Cheese counters in Swiss supermarkets carry 30+ varieties, with subtle differences. Tourists grab "Gruyère" and walk out with the cheapest. They overpay for raclette that splits and underpay for Sbrinz they can't grate. This tool gives the right answer for the dish + budget.
How to read
- AOP/AOC = protected designation. Real Gruyère comes only from the canton of Fribourg/Vaud region.
- Age matters: raclette at 4-6 months melts well; over 8 months it splits and gets stringy.
- Supermarket vs fromagerie: fromageries price by taste profile and let you taste; supermarkets are convenient but anonymous.
Limitations
- AOP cheeses from Migros/Coop are usually the real thing — just not as aged as the fromagerie version.
- Foreign "Swiss cheese" (German, French, US) is a different product. Buy Swiss.
FAQ
Can I use Emmental for fondue?
Yes but it doesn't melt as smoothly. Pure Gruyère or moitié-moitié is the canonical choice.
Sources
- Switzerland Cheese Marketing
- Author's fromagerie tours 2023-2026
About
Built after watching someone pay CHF 30 for "Swiss raclette" that was a German-emulated mountain cheese.
Privacy
No tracking. See homepage privacy.
Disclaimer
Reference. Trust your taste.