Havarti

Easy to slice and melt, Havarti is an excellent choice for sandwiches.

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This semisoft Danish cheese was created in the 19th century by cheese maker Hanne Nielsen, who studied European methods and then developed this cheese on her farm in Denmark. Havarti is a tangy, light-yellow, rindless cows’ milk cheese with irregular holes throughout; it is typically produced in 9-pound (4 kg) loaves.

Varieties

Havarti is available in flavors ranging from mildly sharp to strongly aromatic. Havarti aged for about three months is full-flavored and creamy, and it gains a more distinctive taste as it ages. It may also be produced with extra cream, or with a variety of seasonings, including, dill and other herbs, spices, jalapeño peppers, or caraway seeds. Quality American Havarti is produced on a large scale in Wisconsin and New York state, and by artisan producers in California and elsewhere.

Buying and storing tips

As a semisoft cheese, Havarti can be kept for at least two weeks, when carefully wrapped and refrigerated.

Availability

Danish and American Havarti cheeses are widely available. Danish Tilsit, or Tilsit Havarti, a related cheese with a stronger flavor, is a part-skim cows’ milk cheese not generally available in the United States. Havarti made by artisan producers must be sought out in specialty shops and larger natural food markets.

Preparation, uses, and tips

Havarti is versatile a table cheese that works well sliced, grilled, and melted. Easy to slice and melt, it’s an excellent choice for sandwiches and snacks.

Nutritional Highlights

Havarti, 1 slice 1 oz. (28g)
Calories: 120
Protein: 6.0g
Carbohydrate: 0.0g
Total Fat: 11.0g
Fiber: 0.0g
*Good source of: Calcium (150mg)

*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily Value.

The information presented in this website is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications.