From mozzarella to Gruyere and from Cheddar to Gouda, various varieties of cheese have mesmerised connoisseurs for centuries. With greater availability of exotic imports, cheese is the new gourmet delight for Indians
A toast to cheese
Divisha Saran

The French love their Beaufort and Camembert. The Italians take pride in their mozzarella, parmesan and ricotta. The Swiss have their Gruyere and Emmental. No, these are not touristy places but exotic kinds of cheese.

In comparison to these cheese giants, England has been making its own specialised cheeses like Cheddar, stilton, Cheshire and wensleydale.

Though Cheddar, by far the most renowned export of England, is now being made in a number of countries, it originated from the English village of Cheddar in the Somerset county more than 800 years ago. An ancient book dating back to 1170 AD records that King Henry II bought five tonnes of Cheddar cheese at £3 a tonne for a royal banquet.

Interestingly, the Englishman’s love for cheese did not rub off on the Indians during the British Raj primarily because of the country’s obsession with paneer and butter. However, post-Independence, Indians have been showing a growing proclivity for cheese.

Amul’s baby steps

The trend began in the early 1970s when Anand Milk Union Ltd. (Amul) first put its short, squat cubes on health-conscious breakfast tables across the country. Today, there is an array of tasteful options — from pepper, onion, jeera and mozzarella or pizza cheese.

Joy for palate

Earlier cheese was primarily a breakfast food. But now things are changing. Cheese platters are commonplace in upmarket restaurants. On festivals like Diwali and Christmas, a cheese-and-crackers hamper is a popular gift for those who want to be different.

In cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore, many exclusive stores make elaborate cheese platters on order.

Since wine and cheese are usually served together at swish dos, pairing the two has become an art. An expert will tell you that a cabernet sauvignon will go best with Gouda or a chardonnay will go with brie cheese and pinot noir pairs well with tongue-tickling Edam.

Interestingly, many of these cheeses are not made abroad. They are being produced indigenously in India with a high degree of accuracy in taste and flavour.

Though the demand for Indian-made-foreign-cheeses is on the increase, a number of Indians still hanker after the original stuff. Thus, if Cheddar is a popular choice so are other British cheeses like the silky Cheshire cheese that has an acidic tang. Other British favourite is the creamy stilton produced in the English counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Then there is wensleydale produced in Yorkshire. Author T. S. Eliot called it the Mozart of all cheeses.

European flavours

Most European countries are known for their exclusive cheeses. France, too, produces amazing varieties, special among these being camembert that was the favourite of Napoleon. Then there is Roquefort which was invented in 79 AD. Other cheeses of great pedigree are Munster, Cantal and Beaufort.

Traditionally, Swiss have been making excellent hard cheeses like Emmental and Gruyere as also sbrinz that requires over 18 months of processing. Spain is known for Ibores and the Dutch make Edam, Gouda and Leyden.

However, the crown of cheese making must be go to Italians who have given the world names like mozzarella, ricotta, parmigiano-reggiano — or simply parmesan — provolone, mascarpone, gorgonzola, grana padano and a lot more. When it comes to flavour, quality and style, Italy still rules the world of cheeses. 

Wine  & Cheese Various kinds of cheese have distinctive flavours and textures which are enhanced by pairing them with specific wines. A look at the few of finest cheese

Quark Quite similar to Indian paneer, it is made by boiling, souring and then straining milk. The soft non-aged German yogurt cheese is eaten with cereals and is used in soufflés, cheesecakes, and mousses. It goes well with cabernet shiraz

Mozzarella Another cheese with a global appeal. A fresh soft cheese made from the milk of Italian water buffaloes, the low moisture version of mozzarella finds extensive use as a topping for pizzas, while the fresh high-moisture version is eaten as an appetizer or as an accompaniment in salads. Can be paired with pinot grigio

Camembert This creamy cheese comes from the Normandy region of France, Camembert is made from cow’s milk and has a soft white skin covering it. After peeling off its skin it is usually eaten with baguette or other crisp crust breads and is also used extensively in grilled dishes and soufflés. Pairs well with chardonnay

Cheddar The English Cheddar rules the world as one of the most popular cheeses. The semi-hard, yellowish cheese made of cow’s milk has a distinct sharpness and is used in salads and sandwiches. Pairs well with sauvignon blanc

Gruyere This Swiss cheese made in the valley of Gruyeres, is a hard yellow cheese made of cow’s milk and has a rich nutty flavour. It is marked by holes formed by gas bubbles. Finds favour in fondues, gratins and quiches. Pairs well with pinot noir

Gouda Named after the city of Gouda in the Netherlands, this fruity flavoured yellow cheese has a low melting point. It is used in sauces, soups, desserts and baking. It comes wrapped in a yellow or red wax cover. Goes well with cabernet sauvignon

Danish blue One of the most important cheeses of Denmark, Danish blue has a blue mould, which gives it blue veins. The taste is strong, sharp, piquant and salty. It is used in salads or crumbled on meats. It can be eaten as a snack with crackers and fruits. Pair it with cabernet sauvignon

Parmesan Also called Parmigiano-Reggiano, it is an extra hard cheese made from the milk of cows fed only on grass. It has a sharp, complex fruity taste and a little granular texture. It is used in pastas and soups. Merlot is the ideal wine with parmesan

Feta One of the best known Greek export, feta was traditionally made from sheep or goat’s milk. Now it is made from cow’s milk but the result is same. It has a crumbly texture and can be used in bakes or served as a table cheese or tossed in salads. Goes best with sauvignon blanc

Extreme thrills
Adventure addicts, who crave the adrenaline rush and laugh in the face of danger, tempt fate with every free fall and jump. welcome to the bold, brave new holiday sports
Shobita Shivshankar

For the thrill of the moment, they risk life and limb. No sport excites them, which doesn’t get their pulses racing, hearts pounding and adrenalin shooting. A free bungee fall from a 250 metre tower. A lunge from a cliff feet tied to snowboards and hands flailing. A motorbike ride down the side of a mountain on a slippery dirt track where one wrong move could prove fatal. A gravity defying ski jump. Chasing speed boats ripping through water at 300 km per hour. Or rafting against rapids, which crash into mountains.

Nothing is too dangerous for them. There’s that sudden surge to defy death. And then, the plunge. The more the risks, the more the thrills.

Welcome to the world of extreme sports and meet people who tempt fate with every free fall, every ski jump and every turn of a dirt track. Nearly all survive. Though some are known to succumb to grievous injuries. Yet they keep playing the gut wrenching games, which bring them to the very precipice.

Extreme sports are compelling, intriguing, exciting, exhausting and fulfilling. And those who indulge in them claim that once you’ve diced with death, you are past the point of no return. From then on, they are like addictive drugs, which hook you for life.

Extreme skiing, for example, involves making your way from the top of a mountain to the bottom using only the two skis attached to your feet. Extreme skiers often have to tackle huge drops and treacherous rocks on their way to the bottom and without the help of sticks or poles used by skiers to balance their body weight.

In heli-skiing to get to the top of the mountain, the pros usually get a lift from a helicopter, while others ski up to the top with their snow boards strapped to their backs.

No limits
Even a gentle water sport like river rafting can have an altogether different connotation for a thrill seeker. The thrill of an unridden wave lurking in the gushing waters. And after you get hoisted up, then comes the steep descent, raft and all, till you come hurtling down in the water.

“I look for long, violent, extremely unrunnable stretches of river,” says Viresh Saigal, a Delhi-based adventure enthusiast, who calls himself a ‘River Rat’ and has done extreme rafting in the Indus river in Ladakh, Teesta in Sikkim, Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh and Ganges in Rishikesh.

Saigal laughs at the mention of danger. “When someone says that only a fool would challenge these rapids, I know I have found my thrill. So, when most other people are carrying boats along the bank to avoid an unrunnable stretch of the river, I am right where the action is.”

The thrills are virtually the same in speedboats except here you are not driven by the elements of nature like the gushing waters and high rapids. The elation is to race these at speeds varying between 150 and 250 kmph. And more the bumps and bounces, the higher are the thrills.

At times, the exhilaration comes in pairs. Surfers harnessed to these speedboats skim the water at such unbelievable speeds that a fall can result in severe injuries, or worse, plunge the surfer fathoms into the water. So why do they do it? “Because they are constantly chasing the ultimate rush,” explains Saigal.

Courting danger
When it comes to courting physical danger, there is no sport as risk-prone as bungee jumping. An insane, near-death experience, as many will call it. But for extreme sports lovers, there can be nothing more satisfying than jumping off a high bridge or a cliff with feet harnessed to a long rope.

Close to sky diving, bungee jumping has veritably seized the minds of sensation seeking people. Listen to some of the remarks.... “It’s the thrill of swooping down like a bird...the free fall is the world’s most awesome experience.... It’s liberation man…. A complete freedom of the mind. After a 250 m bungee jump, there is no fear left in the world.”

Suicide-prone maniacs? Or simply people who invite death for a lark? Psychologists say most people go for extreme sports to appear daring while a few actually crave thrills and challenge.

Is that what is compelling a growing number of otherwise normal individuals to take free falls from cliffs, ride motorbikes like daredevils, dive off bridges attached only to a large rubberband or skim over water at nerve-tearing speeds?

Psychologists say that motivations vary but the biggest draw is still the life-affirming adrenaline rush. Others say that it might not be the physical rush as much as the appearance of living on the edge that attracts some people to the perceived danger of extreme sports.

These people are true addicts who would not be happy unless they push the limits. They do what others only dream of. They follow their own desires, not people’s expectations of what they should be doing. Instinctive and compulsive, they let nothing come between them and their resolve to break all rules of the game. 

AN INDIAN ADVENTURE

India is a land of snow clad mountains, tempestuous rivers, unspoiled beaches, a rich coastline, and even deserts. It offers exciting sports experiences. There are a number of places you can visit in India for adventure sports.

White water rafting
Manali and the nearby Solang valley and Rohtang Pass offer skiing and heli-skiing. Lahaul and Spiti are not too far away and are known for white water rafting, trekking and mountain biking.

Skiing and tobogganing
Fagu and Kufri close to Shimla are well known for their amazing ski slopes. The snow-covered slopes here also offer tobogganing — riding downhill on a sled with handrails.

Heli-skiing and snow boarding
Gulmarg at the altitude of 2,730 metres offers heli-skiing and is home to Asia’s highest and longest cable car system. The nearby Pahalgam and Khilanmarg have skiing and ice-skating.

Slalom racing
Auli in Uttarakhand has sports such as slalom racing, cross-country skiing and downhill skiing. It is also popular with trekkers. You can also enjoy the cable car rides, rope lifts and snow-boarding.

Scuba diving
The golden sands of Bangaram in the Lakshadweep Islands offer excellent deep sea adventures. Deep sea scuba diving here is one of the most thrilling water experiences.

Snorkelling
Jolly Buoy and Red Skin Islands in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are best known for snorkelling. The sea here offers some exotic views of marine life and coral sea beds.

Hang and para-gliding
At a height of 7,500 feet, Bir-Billing in the Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh is considered to be one of the best hang-gliding and para-gliding take-off points in the world.

Hot air ballooning
Ranthambore in Rajasthan is not just one of India’s best known tiger reserves but is also known for hot air ballooning. View the tigers from the skies as your balloon soars high.

RAPPELLING & ROCK CLIMBING Rock climbing and rappelling are tough adventure sports that require practice. While rappelling involves descending from a cliff harnessed by a rope and suspended in a standing position, climbing up a rock is more of an endurance test.    Price: Rs 750 per person for full day, including gear

SKYDIVING This is an adrenalin-pumping sport for those who are not daunted by dizzy heights. Skydiving is a sophisticated form of parachuting. In parachuting, one jumps off a plane from around 350 metres whereas in skydiving, the minimum height of the jump begins from 1,500 metres. Price: Between Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000 per sky dive with an instructor

PARAGLIDING One of the most popular adventure sports, paragliding fulfills man’s dream of flying like a bird with the help of a lightweight and foot-launched engineless glider from a mountain. With favourable wind conditions, one can be airborne for hours and attain heady heights. Price: Joy ride for around Rs 650 for two to three minutes and long flying Rs 1,500 for 10 -15 minutes

QUAD RIDING This is adventure with an edge. Go quad biking. A quad bike is a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle (ATV) with handlebars. The bike can kick up a literal storm in the desert and is popular in places like Egypt, Israel and the Californian deserts. It can be found in adventure resorts in India also. Price: Rs 75 per lap on a 50cc ATV.

TOBOGGANING Tobogganing involves sliding downhill snow-covered slopes on a sled with handrails. The sled is constructed of thin boards curled upward at the front end. Thrills and excitement are guaranteed when the sled gathers speed and starts hurtling down to the base of the mountain. Price: In Canada or Switzerland, around $10 (Rs 55) per hour.

MOUNTAIN BIKING This sport is not for the faint-hearted. Mountain biking involves riding a special bike on a rough mountainous terrain that is strewn with rocks, sharp turns and steep declines and ascents. Bikers are known to lose two to three kilos after a day of the rough and tumble of mountain biking. Price: Rs 1,500 per person, which includes bike, packed lunch, snacks and vehicle support.

SLALOM RACING This is another form of skiing. Though the skiing boards and hand sticks are the same, here one does not descend down the mountain freely. Instead, it involves skiing between poles that are erected some feet apart. The quick in-and-out turns makes skiing more challenging. Price: Rs 950 per day, including equipment.

SNORKELLING This is a gentler form of scuba diving. An adventure enthusiast requires a dive mask, swimming fins and a breathing tube called snorkel. It involves surface swimming less than one foot inside the water while breathing through the snorkel and enjoying the marine life though the dive mask. Price: Rs 800 per hour.

WHITE WATER RAFTING Though white river rafting is as old as the times when man first invented boats and learnt to row down rivers, it is only in the last century that it has taken the shape of a sport when people discovered that running down a raging river in an open raft can be one of the most electrifying adventures. Price: Rs 600 for three-hour trip, including equipment.

KAYAKING This is a recreational sport with an element of risk. Kayaking can be done in the sea, lake, or a river using wide, highly stable kayaks. Close to canoeing, kayaking can turn rough and extremely thrilling when rapids and waterfalls are encountered, which can usually overturn them. Price: Rs 1,750 per day, including the equipment.

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