🧀 Queso Nata de Cantabria
Also known as: Queso de Cantabria, Cantabrian cream cheese
Queso Nata de Cantabria is a Spanish PDO cheese from Cantabria made from the milk of Friesian cows, a matured high-fat cheese with soft crust and paste, ripened at least 7 days.
Queso Nata de Cantabria is a Spanish cheese with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) from the Autonomous Community of Cantabria in northern Spain. The specification describes it as a matured high-fat cheese, young or semi-cured, in a cylindrical or six-sided shape with smooth, even faces.
Milk. Milk from Friesian cows kept on farms in the production area that are registered with the Regulatory Board.
Making. The milk is coagulated with animal rennet at 30 °C for 40 minutes, then the cheese is salted in brine and matured for at least seven days.
Appearance. Weight from 400 g to 2,800 g. The crust and the paste are soft and off-white.
Area. The whole of Cantabria except the catchment areas of the Urdón and Cervera rivers. According to the specification, the area is mountainous with a very humid climate and is highly specialised in dairy farming with mainly Friesian cows; in the 19th century a new type of pressed «pasiego» cheese was developed there, which became Cantabrian cheese.
Name and labelling. The name was registered in 1996 as Queso de Cantabria and replaced by Queso Nata de Cantabria under Regulation (EC) No 1068/2007, because the term «queso de nata» was widely used by consumers. The label, authorised by the Regulatory Board, must show the name, and numbered back-labels are issued by the Board.
Facts
| Raw material | Milk of Friesian cows 3 |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Cantabria (except the Urdón and Cervera catchment areas) |
| Duration | At least 7 days 3 |
| Legal basis | EU PDO, PDO-ES-0085; Reg. (EC) 1068/2007 2 |
How it connects to Cheese
🧀 Queso Nata de Cantabria → kind of → 🏷️ Protected cheese names → kind of → 🧀 Cheese
Links
- Made from which milk
- 🥛 Cow's milk
- Part of
- 🧈 Soft cheeses without mould, 🏷️ Protected cheese names, 🇪🇸 Spanish cheeses
Frequently asked questions
What does “nata” mean in Queso Nata de Cantabria?
“Nata” means cream. The name was changed from Queso de Cantabria in 2007 because “queso de nata” was widely used by consumers.
How long is Queso Nata de Cantabria matured?
At least seven days.
What milk is it made from?
Milk from Friesian cows kept on registered farms in Cantabria.
Similar
🧀 Queso Tetilla · 🧀 Torta del Casar · 🧀 Queijo do Pico · 🧀 Queso de La Serena · 🧀 Queso Camerano · 🧀 Quartirolo Lombardo
ℹ️ Dairy products contain lactose and milk proteins: if you are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk protein, ask a doctor.
Sources
- eAmbrosia — Queso Nata de Cantabria (PDO-ES-0085)
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1068/2007 — amendment of the specification (Queso de Cantabria → Queso Nata de Cantabria)
- Amendment application with updated summary, Queso Nata de Cantabria — OJ C 288/8, 25.11.2006