What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when you think about Brazi Bites?

If you said “Cheese!” you’re right! (By the way, we’d also accept “delicious,” “YUM!” and “pretty much the best snack on the planet.”)

Every bite packs a wallop of warm, cheesy goodness. Ever wonder why we chose our cheeses? Here’s where it all began.

Back in 2009, when Brazi Bites were just an apple in our eye, our founder, Junea, called her mom for the family recipe for her favorite nosh, Pão de Queijo. This cheese bread was widely known as Brazil’s favorite snack, but replicating it in the U.S. proved to be a bit of a challenge. Why? Minas cheese!

A semi-soft cheese made from cow’s milk, Minas cheese is perfect for making cheese bread, but it’s just not widely available in the U.S. So, Junea decided to improvise. And after experimenting with dozens and dozens of cheese combinations, the most perfect batch of Brazi Bites came out of the oven in the spring of 2010.

Now, thousands upon thousands of batches and four flavors later, we have five cheeses we count on to bring you the most delicious bites. Let’s take a look at each one.

Cheddar

Cheddar is the most widely purchased and eaten cheese in the world. Legend has it that cheddar was discovered about 800 years ago when a milkmaid left a pail of milk in “Cheddar Gorge Caves” in England.  When she returned, the substance had turned into cheddar cheese. If that’s true, we owe that milkmaid quite a bit!

Cheddar is a mild, crumbly cheese made from cow's milk with a taste that deepens as it matures. It’s the perfect complement to our rich, nutty Parmesan in our flagship flavor, Cheddar and Parmesan. Hard to do better, cheddar!

 Asiago

Another Italian cheese, asiago, comes from Italy's Vincenzo and Trenta regions. It’s a mild-flavored cow’s milk cheese that comes in many forms—from semi-soft to hard.

According to Curious Cuisinier, the longer Asiago is aged, the firmer, drier, and sharper it will be. Perfect for grating! Like Batman and Robin, garlic and asiago work perfectly together to create a combo that we’re proud to call one of our own.

 Parmesan

Parmesan, more formally Parmesan Reggiano, is known as the “King of Cheeses. " And we bow down.

Parmesan’s hard, gritty texture gives way to a taste that’s both fruity and nutty. Made from unpasteurized cow’s milk, the only additive permitted in this cheese is salt, which the cheese absorbs while being submerged in brine tanks for 20 days.

Aged an average of two years, parmesan has a rich, sharp, umami flavor that stands up to creamy cheddar, zesty pepperjack, or a savory cheese combo.

Pepper Jack

A derivative of Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack cheese is made from American cow’s milk, flavored with sweet peppers, rosemary, habañero chilies, garlic, and spicy jalapeños.

Creamy and smooth, rich and buttery, be careful…because as delicious as it is, this is a cheese that packs a punch. That’s why it’s the perfect cheese for our zesty Pepper Jack bites! With a high moisture content, pepper jack is ideal for melting and also works well in many Mexican-style foods.

 Mozzarella

A favorite of pizza lovers everywhere, mozzarella cheese is a Southern Italian cheese traditionally made from buffalo’s milk but may also be made from sheep or cow’s milk.

Unlike other cheeses, mozzarella is not aged but rather eaten as fresh as possible. That works for us! In combination with cheddar and parmesan, mozzarella is the star of our three-cheese pizza bites. Although it’s a flavor for all ages, we hear that many of your kiddos love this one the best!

Hope you loved our little primer on the five cheeses of Brazi Bites! Stay tuned for more great tips, tricks, and ideas as we gear up for Memorial Day and the beginning of summer.