Serra da Estrela cheese

The Queijo Serra da Estrela ( queijo = cheese; DOP), also known as Queijo da Serra, is a Portuguese cheese made from sheep's milk.

Production

The milk comes exclusively from the races Bordaleira Serra da Estrela and Churra Mondegueira, the da Estrela are held in the mountain region of Serra. In the production are in the curdling extracts a thistle -like plant of the genus Cynara cardunculus, a typical in this region plant, added. The production is limited to the regions Serra Estrela, said da Estrela extends beyond the statistical subregion Serra. Main production sites are Seia, Manteigas and Gouveia.

Nature

The weight of the cylindrical cheeses varied from 0.7 to 1.7 kilograms. The production takes place mainly in the winter months. Inside, the cheese during storage without further treatment creamy thick. At lower temperatures or a special follow-up he is determined. Traditionally cut in Portugal in the soft variant of the upper part of the bark removed and the creamy cheese with a butter knife or a spoon.

Variants

• There is a variant which differs by a longer ripening period, the Queijo Serra da Estrela Velho.
• There is also a Queijo Serra da Estrela which is made from sheep's and goat's milk. However, this does not carry the DOP designation of origin.