Portugal has once again been recognized as a top destination for exceptional sheep milk cheese, according to TasteAtlas. In early November, the platform published an updated list of the best
sheep milk cheeses globally, and Portugal claimed the top spot.
Leading the list is the renowned Queijo Serra da Estrela, which was rated as the highest quality sheep milk cheese in the world.
“Serra da Estrela is a semi-soft cheese made from the milk of the Bordaleira Serra da Estrela and Churra Mondegueira sheep breeds. The milk is collected by hand and then heated, salted, and curdled using thistle extract,” notes TasteAtlas.
The cheese-making process involves forming the curds into rounds that are left to mature in cool, humid conditions. The result is a creamy, semi-soft interior with a yellowish-white hue and a flavor profile that is clean, sweet, and slightly tangy. Esteemed for its heritage, Queijo Serra da Estrela is considered Portugal’s oldest and most traditional food product with international recognition.
“In the 13th century, the King of Portugal established the first cheese market in Celorico da Beira, nestled in the Serra da Estrela mountain range, where this iconic cheese continues to be produced. It was even part of the provisions on some of the earliest voyages to the New World,” the platform highlights.
Traditionally, Serra da Estrela cheese is enjoyed as either an appetizer or a dessert and pairs excellently with regional Dão wines and broa, a type of local cornbread. Rich in cultural significance, Serra da Estrela cheese is a source of immense pride and is regarded as the “father” of all Portuguese sheep cheeses.
The TasteAtlas list features 100 sheep milk cheeses from various countries, with Portugal’s Azeitão cheese securing the seventh position. The platform mentions, “The origins of this cheese trace back to the 19th century when Gaspar Henriques de Paiva brought it to Azeitão.”
Other notable Portuguese cheeses on the list include Serpa cheese, Beira Baixa cheese, Évora cheese, regional saloio, curd cheese from Serra da Estrela, Nisa cheese, and Terrincho cheese.
Rounding out the top three cheeses globally are Greece’s Graviera Kritis and Italy’s Pecorino Romano, both trailing the celebrated Serra da Estrela cheese. Photo by Hipersyl, Wikimedia commons.