Pepper jack cheese

A half-pound block of Tillamook pepper jack cheese.

Pepper jack cheese is a derivative of Monterey Jack that includes spicy hot peppers for flavor. Spicy, delicate and buttery, pepper jack cheese is semi-soft and open textured with a slightly tart flavor.

Pepper jack is often used as an alternative cheese in dishes such as quesadillas, and also eaten with bread or crackers. The name was made popular by the Rumiano Cheese Company.

A variation of pepper jack cheese involves using specific peppers. The most common varieties of this specific-pepper jack cheese are jalapeño jack and habanero jack, but other varieties are available.