Cheese for the Uninitiated

[squinchy]

(I chose the "Cheesy" message icon.)

What cheeses should I try first if I don't like plain cheese, but want to be familiar with the various types?

Intro to cheese. Easiest classical cheese, so to speak.

Cheese preparations (lasagna, pizza) are not a problem, so they might not be effective solutions either.

Unrelated: Oprah is focusing on some 3 year old who can add large numbers. Ayayayayayay

[a-sharp]

What is "plain" cheese?

[squinchy]

What is "plain" cheese?

Oo, sorry--awfully unspecific. Cheese eaten alone, or accompanied only for the sake of eating the cheese. Not masked by anything else.

[ilikepie]

Things found in everyday food are good starters.
Mozarella, Swiss, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Parmesan, Provolone and stuff like that are usually good to start with; they're all good sanwich cheeses if I'm not wrong.
Then you can explore to other cheeses: Gouda, Brie, Camembert, Emmental, Gruyere(great for gratin)... then the world of cheese if yours.

[a-sharp]

squinchy~

I think if you want to truly know your cheeses, you have to try them "plain." It would be difficult to truly compare and get the full 'experience'/ flavour of the cheese if it is 'complicated' by some other combination of ingredients or flavours.

That said... you could probably taste various cheeses on something like table water crackers (do you know what those are?). those aren't oily or fried and are probably the "cleanest' for your palate (am I making sense?).

As for which ones to try first, I am no cheese expert, but I'd start with cheeses that are lightest in flavour, and work your way down the list to cheeses that are strongest or the most pungent. Honestly though, just start with something you're interested in.

Best thing is to find a cheese shop - they will usually let you sample the cheese & have all sorts of stuff to tell you about it (they may expect you to buy some after your done, but it's probably not required).

Here you go:
https://cheese.about.com/od/cheesebeverages/ht/taste_technique.htm

There are probably a thousand other articles.... (google is your friend)

...
My *favorite* cheese is goat cheese!