Why did they pick August as national goat cheese month? Well, they picked this month for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that most goat cheeses are at their best when they are on the young side. If a cheese is relatively aged around four months, the milk would have been drawn when the goats had plenty of fresh vegetation to eat during the spring.
The second reason is that if the cheese is even younger, many dairy goats have wild berries and fresh herbs to add to their summer diets. The more food choices the goats have, the more flavorful their milk and cheese will be.
Goat milk is often consumed by young children, the elderly, those who are ill, or have a low tolerance to cow’s milk. It is more similar to human milk than that of a cow. While cow’s milk is very popular in the West, goat’s milk and cheese are the preferred dairy products in much of the world. Goat cheese is often made in areas where refrigeration is limited and for that reason, they are often heavily treated with salt to prevent decay. That is why salt has become associated with the flavor of goat cheese.
August is one of the hottest months of the year and many cheese lovers prefer lighter choices during our hot days, such as younger goat cheeses. Besides, goat cheese is especially flavored in August.
Do you enjoy having light wines or beers during the summer? You’ll find that Sauvignon Blancs or the young Chardonnays that are fermented in stainless steel instead of oak, will pair exceptionally well with goat cheeses. Goat cheeses also go well with cool pilsners, wheat beers or summer ales.
Oh, doesn’t a nice drink and some goat cheese sound good after a hot day at work? Or, how about putting some delicious goat cheese on a nice, cool salad? Go ahead and treat yourself. Better yet, surprise your spouse or friends with a special treat. You deserve it!
