Discover the amazing Parmesan cheese

Very typical from Italy, Parmesan is a reference for every cheese lover and it is usually present in everyone’s kitchen. Its unique taste is now appreciated in every corner of the world, but true parmesan has its origins only in the “Reggiano” region of Italy.

Usually this cheese is made with the milk of Holstein-Frísia cows, but the right milk for the production is from the Reggiana cow. The real parmesan is made only with raw cow milk, salt and curd.

Parmigiano Reggiano or Parmesan cheese has had more imitators than almost any other product, which is why Parmigiano is now a protected product, carrying the Protected Denomination of of Origin designation.

Our Apple, Raisins and Cinnamon it is perfect to enjoy with Parmesan cheeses.

How this cheese is made

Parmesan is made with unpasteurized cow’s milk. Skimmed milk from the evening milking and whole milk from the morning milking is poured into huge copper vats. Starter whey is added to curdle and coagulate the milk. It is then used an equipment called the spino is used to break up the milk when it starts to form into curds. The mixture is heated to 55°C and after the curds have formed together and sunk to the bottom, the cheesemaker will scrape them into a huge piece of cloth and pull it up out of the liquid whey. The cheese in placed into a mould with information such as the date of production and dairy identification number.

After a few days, it is immersed in a salt brine where it absorbs salt and the rind hardens. The maturation process starts in a temperature-controlled warehouse for about 12 months.

The unique taste of Parmesan

Parmesan cheese on the outside has a firm, smooth and not sticky crust. On the inside show its amazing lightly yellow color. The texture is very compact, consistent and slightly granulated. Its flavor is slightly sweet, salty and kind of spicy. The parmesan cheese is probably the cheese with the highest quantity of umami, called the “fifth flavor”..

Tips on how it should be sliced

Since this cheese is quite hard, it needs to be broken into irregular pieces. In order to cut it we advise to use the right knife, known as “coltello a mandorla”. It has a short and round blade, and one of its sides is thinner in order to make easier the penetration, while the other side is ticker because it has to act as wedge.

Know the perfect match for your Parmesan

Besides being perfect to use as condiment for prepared foods like pizzas, pastas, risottos, or salads, this amazing cheese is perfect to be enjoyed on its own. Parmesan pairs really well with wines, fresh fruits like grapes or figs, and is really good with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. This remarkable cheese is perfect to be paired with our Pumpkin and Chestnut Jam.