Bel Paese is made in smallish discs with a thin shiny rind. The paste has an ivory color with a few small holes. It is too firm to spread but a little too soft to slice well. It has a milky, buttery aroma and a gently buttery flavor with a slight tang to it.
This bland gourmet cheese was created by the Galbani cheese family in the early part of the twentieth century to compete with the soft French cheeses.
The label of the cheese depicts a map of Italy and a face of a young priest with a book called Bel Paese (beautiful land).