The popular Aarong cheese

With over 1,750 variations, cheese has always been a name of a popular delicacy in the European countries. Asian countries are also big on cheese consumption. Even Bangladesh has its own share in the market with the iconic cottage cheese.

Whether it is the classic paneer, the modern mozzarella, or the spread cheese, this delicacy is gradually building its place in the pantry of Bangladeshi households.

In January this year, Aarong Dairy introduced five variants of cheese in the market – sliced, spread, cubes, Austagram, and shredded mozzarella. For their taste and quality, these cheeses have become popular amongst the consumers.

Kishoreganj's Austagram cheese is very popular in the country for its creamy taste. To replicate this particular flavour in Aarong's factory, the company has hired five local expert cheesemakers.

Apart from the locally popular Austagram cheese, the other four variants of cheese are manufactured by an Indian company naming 'Schreiber Dynamics Dairies Private Ltd.', exclusively based on Aarong's recipe.

Also, three flavours of spread cheese and two flavours of sliced cheese are available in the market. Additionally, considering peoples' fondness for spices, Aarong Dairy is planning to explore the idea of bringing chilli flavour for spread cheese in the next year. They also have a plan for coming up with pure Paneer in near future.

According to Soad Sufi, deputy manager, brands, of Aarong Dairy and Food Project, "Mozzarella is very popular among the consumers as it's mostly used as pizza topping for its stretchy nature. The sliced ones are highly used for home consumption."

"As the spread cheese is comparatively new for Bangladeshi consumers, consumption of this particular cheese is comparatively low," she added.

The prices of these cheese vary from Tk80 to Tk500. For 100gm locally produced Austagram cheese, one has to spend Tk80, and the price of 500gm Mozzarella is Tk500. Cube cheese normally costs Tk160.