Thurgau / St. Gallen · Switzerland
Tilsit (Swiss).
A supple, semi-hard cheese with a russet washed rind that whispers of cool cellars and fermented hay. Tilsit's mild, tangy paste yields a creamy mouthfeel with a subtle peppery bite that builds as it warms on your tongue—savory and slightly spicy without demanding attention, making it the thinking person's table cheese.
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Origin
47.4°N · 9.0°E
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Tilsit originated in East Prussia, where Swiss and Dutch émigré dairy families had settled; Swiss cheesemakers returning home — Otto Wartmann and Hans Wegmüller in 1893 — brought the recipe to the canton of Thurgau and adapted it to the Swiss style.
The Swiss Tilsiter has a distinctive washed rind and milder flavor compared to Scandinavian or German versions. It became one of Switzerland's popular table cheeses.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Cow · pasteurised
- Family
- Washed-rind
- Rind
- washed
- Age
- 1–6 mo
- Intensity
- 3 / 5
- Texture
- semi-hard
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Tilsit (Swiss)'s flavour and aroma notes, scaled by the cheese's overall intensity — a quick guide, not a lab measurement.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100 g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100 g serving — about a finger-thick wedge. Daily values use the FDA 2020 reference of 2,000 kcal. Expect ±5% variation between wheels.
Serve, cut & store
Out of the fridge,
into its prime.
Guidance for washed-rind cheeses — general practice, not a per-wheel measurement.
Rest
Take it out about 1.5–2 h before serving — cold stiffens the fat and locks up the aromas; cool room temperature is when the flavour shows up.
Cut
Slice in wedges with the rind on — or for a very ripe wheel, take off the top and spoon.
Store
Wrap leftovers in cheese paper or wax paper — never cling film, which suffocates the rind — and keep them in the warmest part of the fridge.
Rule of thumb: the softer and riper, the longer it needs. Thick pieces need longer than thin — and don't leave cheese out much past two hours.
Pairings · Caseo curated
What goes with Tilsit.
47 pairings across 7 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Tilsit (Swiss) are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Tilsit (Swiss) at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
Take it with you
Want to remember this one?.
Log it, pair it, and keep your own tasting notes — Caseo is free.
