Swiss Cheese Day Date in the current year: January 2, 2024

The term Swiss cheese can have three distinct meanings depending on the context. Broadly speaking, any cheese produced in Switzerland is a Swiss cheese. Switzerland has a very long history of cheesemaking; it produces almost 500 varieties of cheese, mostly from cow’s milk, which include extra hard, hard, semi-hard, semi-soft, soft, and even blue cheeses.

The expression “Swiss cheese” is also used synonymously with the terms Swiss-type cheese and Alpine cheese. These terms refer to a group of hard or semi-hard cheeses that originated in the Alpine region of Europe. Alpine cheeses can be produced in Switzerland (Appenzeller, Gruyère, Emmental), France (Beaufort, Comté), Austria (Alpkäse), and Italy (Asiago). Swiss-type cheeses are also produced in some countries outside of the Alpine region; they include, for example, Dutch Maasdam, Norwegian Jarlsberg, and Swedish Grevé.

Finally, in North America and some other parts of the English-speaking world, the term “Swiss cheese” usually refers to Emmental or any variety of cheese that resembles it because Emmental is arguably the best-known Alpine cheese outside of Switzerland. The United States Department of Agriculture uses the terms Emmental cheese and Swiss cheese interchangeably.

Emmental cheese (also known as Emmenthal or Emmentaler) has been around since at least the 13th century; it was named after an area in the Swiss canton of Bern where this cheese variety originated. It is a yellow, medium-hard cheese with large eyes (holes) that has a mild yet savory taste. Interestingly, holes in Swiss cheese were originally seen as an imperfection, but they have since become one of its distinctive features. The larger the eyes, the more flavorful the cheese because the holes are a result of the fermentation process.

According to a poll of 8,000 adults, Swiss cheese is the fourth most popular type of cheese in the United States behind cheddar cheese, American cheese, and mozzarella. It is not surprising because this cheese has a great balance of flavor and mildness; in addition, Swiss cheese is considered one of the healthiest cheeses due to its naturally low content of lactose, fat, and sodium.

Swiss Cheese Day is one of those unofficial food days with murky origins, but do you really need to know the history of the holiday in order to celebrate it? Swiss Cheese Day is the perfect excuse to indulge in some delicious cheese, and that’s enough for us!

You can celebrate Swiss Cheese Day by sampling as many types of Swiss cheese as you can and choosing the one you like the most, attending a cheese and wine pairing class to learn what wines go best with Swiss cheeses, gifting someone a block of Swiss cheese, using Swiss cheese in cooking (it is perfect for making French onion soup, sandwiches, casseroles, and fondue), or even planning a trip to Switzerland that includes a visit to a cheese farm. And don’t forget to spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtag #SwissCheeseDay!