Italian Cheeses used in our Hampers
Here at Hample HQ in Northampton we have a wealth of Italian cheeses on offer, as many as you would find in any real Italian shop! Many of them are always in stock, but all of the are available by special request and preorder, as we have used our many years of experience in owning an Italian deli, to have sourced all the best Italian cheeses.
Provolone is the staple cheese of Italy and is widely available across the beautiful boot, in the uk however, you can only find provolone in specialist Italian shops, Italian delis and online Italian shops - and we’re one of them! Hample is pleased to stock Provolone picante and provolone dolce. Great for eating after meals, in panini and also for cooking, this cheese is as wonderful with Italian cooked ham in a croissant as it is cubed and layered in a lasagne or cannelloni.
Cacio cavallo, is a type of provola, similar to the above, more typical in southern Italy - Puglia, Molise, Basilicata, Campagna and Calabria. It’s a hard salty cheese which can be used in cooking, or is typically grilled and served with a salad. Its unique shape is that of a large ball with string or rope tied around the top, which is how they were traditionally tied in pairs and transported over a horse’s back. Still presented the same way, but transported in a more modern fashion, this cheese is available in your hamper on request.
Scamorza is similar to a smoked provola cheese or smoked mozzarella cheese, grilled on top of a cooked dish is the best place for it and is particularly well paired with a tomato sugo, nduja and aubergine, or in a hearty mountain dish of cabbage and potatoes. Available on request.
Cacio cavallo, is a type of provola, similar to the above, more typical in southern Italy - Puglia, Molise, Basilicata, Campagna and Calabria. It’s a hard salty cheese which can be used in cooking, or is typically grilled and served with a salad. Its unique shape is that of a large ball with string or rope tied around the top, which is how they were traditionally tied in pairs and transported over a horse’s back. Still presented the same way, but transported in a more modern fashion, this cheese is available in your hamper on request.
Scamorza is similar to a smoked provola cheese or smoked mozzarella cheese, grilled on top of a cooked dish is the best place for it and is particularly well paired with a tomato sugo, nduja and aubergine, or in a hearty mountain dish of cabbage and potatoes. Available on request.
We have a number of pecorino cheeses available year round at Hample, that can be requested in your hamper or ‘Italian Shop in a Box’. First of all is..
Pecorino Toscano as the name suggests is a sheep’s cheese from Tuscany. It’s mild, semi soft cheese and is perfect with a salted cracker.
Pecorino Sardo is a Sardinian sheep’s cheese of which there are many varying strengths. From years of running an Italian Shop before becoming Hample Hampers, I've found an amazing, very cheesy, medium Sardinian pecorino to compliment Hample’s cheese selection. If you’d like a more mature or stronger version, simply request it!
Pecorino Buccaro Peppato however IS a super mature, crumbly pecorino that is a staple in stock at Hample. Complete with black peppercorns dotted throughout, this mature cheese typically eaten in the south and Sicily, can be grated on pasta, or eaten cubed with anti pasti or after a meal.
Pecorino Romano is a strong and salty pecorino, strictly for grating on pasta dishes such a real carbonara or ‘cacio e pepe’. This will often be featured in our cookery lover’s hamper.
Taleggio is a must at Hample as it’s uniquely soft yet strong, cheesey and tangy. A favourite on a cheese board, baked with bread to dip, or a luxurious addition to any hearty autumn cooked dish.
Gorgonzola Picante and Gorgonzola Dolce, we’re so in love with Italian blue cheese here at Hample, that we stock Gorgonzola Picante and Gorgonzola Dolce all the live-long year! A favourite recommendation is to leave the mild gorgonzola at room temperature briefly, and serve with a drizzle of honey, a sprinkle of walnuts and of dried cranberries.
Primo Sale is a soft salty cheese typical of southern Italy and sicily and is ususlly enjoyed at Easter. Available on request, we provide primo sale made locally using british pasteurised milk!
Mozzarella and Mozzarella di Buffalo are in stock permanently at our lovely online Italian shop distributing from Northamptonshire. Often included in meat and cheese hampers, always in a grazing one, and definitely in our pizza kits! The brand we prefer is Aurrichio, one of Italy’s favourites.
Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano the well known grating cheese for topping your favourite pasta dishes. Generally Parmesan is our ‘go to’ for including in hampers. Parmiggiano Reggiano is not just for grating though, its also well placed on a buffet or cheese board in cubes with a side of seasonal strawberries.
Asiago is a mild, nutty mountain cheese from Asiago! Lovely eaten on its own or a cracker, and is available on request.
Stracchino, similar to crescenza and robiola, popular in the north in regions such as Piemonte and emilia Romagna, are very white, mild, tangy creamy cheeses, typically eaten on a piadina (type of wrap) with prosciutto and rocket. Also yummy on a cracker with a touch of plum jam. Available on request
See our range of Italian Cured Meats.
Pecorino Toscano as the name suggests is a sheep’s cheese from Tuscany. It’s mild, semi soft cheese and is perfect with a salted cracker.
Pecorino Sardo is a Sardinian sheep’s cheese of which there are many varying strengths. From years of running an Italian Shop before becoming Hample Hampers, I've found an amazing, very cheesy, medium Sardinian pecorino to compliment Hample’s cheese selection. If you’d like a more mature or stronger version, simply request it!
Pecorino Buccaro Peppato however IS a super mature, crumbly pecorino that is a staple in stock at Hample. Complete with black peppercorns dotted throughout, this mature cheese typically eaten in the south and Sicily, can be grated on pasta, or eaten cubed with anti pasti or after a meal.
Pecorino Romano is a strong and salty pecorino, strictly for grating on pasta dishes such a real carbonara or ‘cacio e pepe’. This will often be featured in our cookery lover’s hamper.
Taleggio is a must at Hample as it’s uniquely soft yet strong, cheesey and tangy. A favourite on a cheese board, baked with bread to dip, or a luxurious addition to any hearty autumn cooked dish.
Gorgonzola Picante and Gorgonzola Dolce, we’re so in love with Italian blue cheese here at Hample, that we stock Gorgonzola Picante and Gorgonzola Dolce all the live-long year! A favourite recommendation is to leave the mild gorgonzola at room temperature briefly, and serve with a drizzle of honey, a sprinkle of walnuts and of dried cranberries.
Primo Sale is a soft salty cheese typical of southern Italy and sicily and is ususlly enjoyed at Easter. Available on request, we provide primo sale made locally using british pasteurised milk!
Mozzarella and Mozzarella di Buffalo are in stock permanently at our lovely online Italian shop distributing from Northamptonshire. Often included in meat and cheese hampers, always in a grazing one, and definitely in our pizza kits! The brand we prefer is Aurrichio, one of Italy’s favourites.
Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano the well known grating cheese for topping your favourite pasta dishes. Generally Parmesan is our ‘go to’ for including in hampers. Parmiggiano Reggiano is not just for grating though, its also well placed on a buffet or cheese board in cubes with a side of seasonal strawberries.
Asiago is a mild, nutty mountain cheese from Asiago! Lovely eaten on its own or a cracker, and is available on request.
Stracchino, similar to crescenza and robiola, popular in the north in regions such as Piemonte and emilia Romagna, are very white, mild, tangy creamy cheeses, typically eaten on a piadina (type of wrap) with prosciutto and rocket. Also yummy on a cracker with a touch of plum jam. Available on request
See our range of Italian Cured Meats.
Please see our full range of Italian Food Hampers
Italian Cheeses used by Hample .. your local Italian shop in a box