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Dairy Country · Semi-Hard Cow's Cheese

Queso Colonia

Queso Colonia — street food from Colonia, Uruguay
Photo: Coquimbo58 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

It's one of the only cheeses in South America named directly after the department that invented it, recognized as its own distinct Uruguayan variety.

A semi-hard, mild cow's milk cheese with small holes is sliced thick and sold at Colonia's dairy stands and markets, often paired with membrillo or eaten plain on crackers. It melts easily, making it a favorite for grilled sandwiches too.

Why it's made this way: Swiss and other European colonists settled Colonia department specifically to farm dairy, and the cheese takes its name straight from that heritage.
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Part of World of Street Food — 690 dishes from 118 countries. Something wrong here? Tell us in the comments below. Photo credits.