New on the Houston artisan foods market is Pola, a local cheesemaker. While most ‘local’ cheeses are from Texas hill country, Pola Artisan Cheeses are made right here in Houston with milk procured from small dairy farmers in the area. Pola produces a wide range of cheeses using old world methods. Varieties include both raw and pasteurized goat and cow milk cheeses.

Charoomy: Made from pasteurized cow milk, this cheese has a light texture and delicate flavor.

Ashy Rind Pyramid: Made from pasteurized goat milk, this cheese is creamy in texture and has a more tangy flavor than the cow milk. The colorful rind is delicious as well, the result of coating the rind with vegetable ash.

Bloomy Rind Pyramid: This cheese is also made from pasteurized goat milk. Bloomy cheeses age from the outside to the inside, giving them a range of texture. The tart flavor of this cheese and its velvety rind made this one our favorite.

Currently, we have only been able to find these cheeses at the Whole Foods Market on Kirby. If you have seen them elsewhere, please leave us a comment.

Photo by Kaylan Tannahill / Houstonist

Filed in Food and tagged cheese, cow, goat, local, milk, Pola, whole foods