From milk milked from sheep that graze the lands of Castilla y Leon a product is born that can already wear the distinctive of Protected Geographical Indication. Because the Castilian Cheese Brand has already received this seal from the European Union. Thus, it values and recognizes the place where this dairy derivative is made, as well as its tradition, reputation and even guarantee of high quality. This is so the third IGP achieved by the autonomous community well known for its wines or by the lamb, which we have talked about in other articles. If you were still unaware of this cheese, we present it to you below.
Origin and history of this cheese
A deep-rooted cheese-making tradition makes Castilla y León, which occupies an ideal territory for the production of this type of high quality food. The continental Mediterranean climate has long favored the work of ranchers in the region, those who have also taken advantage of the extensive vegetation present. There where the flocks of sheep continue to roam freely feeding on magnificent vegetables, as they did already in the time of celts and vacceans. Among more mountainous and flat areas, this contrast of landscapes has fostered since millennia the good grazing. Both transhumant and sedentary. Although the the origin of the first cheese artisans was in the Bronze Age.
For years, the dairy derivative was used as exchange currency to obtain wheat, barley, wine or giblets. Already from 1880 an important take-off of the Castilian-Leonese cheese industry began with the founding of several companies dedicated to making a very characteristic cheese of different sheep breeds. It was necessary to wait, yes, many more years so that in 2013 the quality figure of the Castilian Cheese Brand.
How is the Castilian Cheese Brand?
We are facing a fatty or extra-fatty cheese of enzymatic coagulation and whose pressing is intense. It has a long useful life after being made with raw or pasteurized milk from sheep, always from regional livestock farms. Its minimum maturity is 30 days (in weights equal to or less than 1,5 kilograms) and of 60 days for all other formats. Once its curing period is over, it offers very unique qualities from its outermost part to taste in the mouth. So your texture It is a very firm, buttery, defined paste that melts on the palate, without being too crumbly. The color varies from pale yellow to brown.
Then in the smell a high intensity with nuances according to the age of maturation. In this way, it can be a pleasant smell (young cheese), odorous (aged) or highly fragrant (old). Going further into the matter, it smells like candy and, to a lesser extent, vegetable notes and even nuts already for the more mature products. Finally, at taste it moderate acidity and a low vegetable taste but with butter sensations. A soluble, elastic and even somewhat grainy texture is noted when it is on the palate.
Castilla y León, leader in sheep milk production
Currently, the Castilian-Leon autonomous community accounts for up to 61% of the total production of sheep milk from Spain. That which is characterized by offering a large amount of aromas transmitted by the plants eaten by sheep (thyme, rosemary, oregano, lavender, spearmint ...) in the pasture territory. Then, of course, that intense flavor is present in the native cheeses whose qualities are exquisite. In this way, Castilian Cheese Brand reaches the consumer through a wide variety of cheese shops who sell it. Throughout the country, there are about 30 in total that provide this seal of quality. However, the control of its production is reduced to Castilla y Leon exclusively, as is usually the case in products of this type.
The companies dedicated to making the balls must offer guarantees from when they receive the raw material until the product is released. As a note, it should be noted that in the year 2019, some cheese left the facilities 2.340 tons of this cheese for an economic value of 23,4 millions of euros. But from this present course, thanks to obtaining the IGP seal, business aspirations will increase in the Castilian Cheese Brand, especially at the European level. If you want to try it now, you can find it in supermarkets El Corte Ingles, For example.
