
12/08/2025
Taleggio: Smells Like Trouble, Tastes Like Glory
Penne here, reporting from the couch again, and before you ask—yes, I can smell Taleggio through walls. You try having 300 million scent receptors and staying calm when someone unwraps this washed-rind wonder.
Taleggio is soft. Taleggio is melty. Taleggio is... how shall I put this diplomatically? Bold. Some say it smells like socks and secrets. Others—like my friend and Re Di Roma team member Aziz —say, “Nope, I’m out,” and go sit far, far away.
But don’t let the smell fool you—Taleggio tastes like pure, buttery romance. Earthy, meaty, mellow, with a hint of mischief. A cheese for the brave… and the lucky.
A Bite of History: Born in the caves of the Val Taleggio in Lombardy, this cheese has been wooing tastebuds (and offending noses) since at least the 10th century. Back then, shepherds rubbed the rind with brine while it aged in damp caves—giving it that iconic orange hue and that unmistakable aroma.
Penne Pick: At Re Di Roma, Taleggio stars on the Pizza Bologna—a white pizza with mortadella, taleggio, fior di latte mozzarella, Kalamata olives, sliced locally grown Meyer lemon, then drizzled with lemon-infused olive oil. My mom says it’s life-changing, and I believe her. She shares her parmigiano-reggiano with me.
Scent Profile: Gym locker in a wine cellar
Flavor: Mild, creamy, savory, absolutely worth the sniff
Penne Pairing: Warm focaccia. A single fig. A raised brow.
Taleggio walks into a room and everyone knows it. But if you’re brave enough to stay… you’ll be rewarded.