Say Cheese part 2: Tasting

Tasting cheese is like tasting wine, the basic elements are the same -- look, smell, taste and flavor. Same with wine, other foods, music and clothing, cheese is a matter of personal taste. Some might love stinky cheese and others hate it. As I've always said with wine, find what you like, and don't let anyone else change your opinion.Basics of Tasting:LookAs noted in the look section on buying cheese, you want to make sure the appearance of the cheese looks good. SmellSimiliar to smell section on buying cheese, you want to make sure the aroma is what you are expecting. TasteHere's where you find out the texture and open the gate to the flavor of the cheese.The style of cheese will tell you what type of texture the cheese has. Soft cheeses will release flavors sooner than harder cheeses.FlavorCheese will impart a specific flavor while eating the cheese. This is why it's important to make sure it is at room tempature so you can get the most flavor out of the cheese.Once you have your piece of room temperature cheese:1) Put it in your mouth2) Chew carefully3) Breathe through your nose and mouth -- paying attention to the various sensations as the cheese passes through your mouth. (Is it salty, creamy, crumbly, etc.)4) Eat up and enjoy!Like with wine, there are a number of terms to help describe cheese and once I find a way to post them and not take up 10 pages, I will.