A guide to Havarti — Denmark's smooth, buttery table cheese. How it's made, what it tastes like, and the best ways to serve and melt it.
Havarti is Denmark's most beloved cheese export — a smooth, creamy, buttery cheese that's almost universally likable. Mild yet satisfying, easy to slice and easy to melt, it's the kind of cheese that pleases a crowd and quietly earns a permanent place in the fridge.
What Havarti Is
Havarti is a semi-soft Danish cow's-milk cheese, named after the farm of Hanne Nielsen, a 19th-century Danish cheesemaker who developed it after studying cheesemaking across Europe. It's a "washed-curd" cheese, meaning water is added to the curds during production to wash out some acidity, which gives Havarti its signature mild, sweet, supple character. The interior is typically dotted with many small, irregular holes.
Flavor and Texture
Havarti is pale, smooth, and creamy, with a buttery, slightly sweet, gently tangy flavor and a clean, mild finish. The texture is supple and almost springy when young, growing firmer and more flavorful with age. Aged Havarti develops a sharper, more savory, hazelnut-like character, while young Havarti is soft and mellow. It's a cheese with broad appeal and little to intimidate newcomers.
Flavored Havarti
Havarti is often sold with flavorings mixed in, and these versions are very popular. Dill Havarti is a classic, its herbal freshness complementing the creamy base, while other versions include caraway, jalapeño, garlic, horseradish, and herbs. The mild cheese acts as a gentle backdrop that lets the added flavors shine.
A Versatile Melter
Havarti melts beautifully into a smooth, creamy layer, making it excellent for cooking. It's a natural in grilled cheese sandwiches, paninis, and quesadillas, melts over burgers and vegetables, and enriches sauces and bakes. Its mild flavor means it adds creaminess without overpowering, while flavored versions can bring an extra dimension to melted dishes.
How to Use Havarti
Beyond melting, Havarti is a fine table and snacking cheese: slice it for sandwiches and crackers, cube it for platters, or serve it on a board with fruit, nuts, and bread. It pairs well with apples, pears, grapes, and light, crisp drinks. Its all-around friendliness makes it one of the easiest cheeses to build a snack or sandwich around.
Pairings
Havarti goes with crisp white wines, light reds, and lagers, as well as fresh and dried fruit, nuts, and honey. Dill Havarti pairs especially well with smoked salmon and crisp vegetables.
Buying and Storing
Havarti is widely available in blocks and slices, plain and flavored. Being semi-soft and relatively moist, it's best wrapped well and kept refrigerated, used within a couple of weeks. Bring it to room temperature before serving on a board to bring out its creaminess.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Havarti a mild cheese?
Yes. Young Havarti is mild, buttery, and creamy, though aged versions develop a sharper, nuttier flavor.
Why does Havarti have small holes?
The many small, irregular holes form naturally during its washed-curd production and are characteristic of the cheese.
Is Havarti good for melting?
Very. It melts smoothly and creamily, making it excellent for grilled cheese, paninis, and topping burgers.