🧀 Queso Zamorano
Also known as: Zamorano, Zamorano cheese
Queso Zamorano is a Spanish PDO hard pressed cheese made from the milk of Churra and Castellana ewes in the province of Zamora, matured for at least 60 or 100 days.
Queso Zamorano is a Spanish hard pressed cheese with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), registered in the EU in 1996. According to the single document it is a full-fat cheese made from the milk of Churra and Castellana ewes and of first crosses (F1) of these ewes with Spanish Assaf rams.
Area. The cheese is produced solely in the province of Zamora in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula, mostly in the Duero Valley. Flocks graze within the area; supplementary feed is allowed in winter and around lambing and lactation.
Maturing. Cheeses over 1.5 kg mature for at least 100 days, lighter ones for at least 60 days.
Appearance and taste. A cylinder with flat faces, up to 14 cm high, 24 cm across and 4 kg in weight. The rind is hard and well defined, from pale yellow to dark grey. The paste is firm and compact, white to yellowish ivory, with a few small holes. Young cheeses show hints of cooked butter and hay, older ones notes of dried fruit, with a more intense and long finish. Fat is at least 45 % of dry matter, dry extract at least 55 % and protein at least 30 % of dry matter.
Why it matters to you: the name Queso Zamorano with the PDO logo guarantees sheep's milk from Zamora and a minimum maturing time.
Queso Zamorano belongs to Hard cheeses, Cheeses of Spain and Protected cheese names; its raw material is sheep's milk.
Facts
| Raw material | Sheep's milk (Churra, Castellana, F1 with Spanish Assaf) |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Province of Zamora (Castile and León) |
| Duration | Matured ≥ 100 days (over 1.5 kg) or ≥ 60 days 3 |
| Legal basis | EU PDO, PDO-ES-0089, Reg. (EC) No 1107/96 1 |
How it connects to Cheese
🧀 Queso Zamorano → kind of → 🪨 Hard cheeses → kind of → 🧀 Cheese
Links
- Made from which milk
- 🥛 Sheep's milk
- Part of
- 🪨 Hard cheeses, 🏷️ Protected cheese names, 🇪🇸 Spanish cheeses
Frequently asked questions
What milk is Queso Zamorano made from?
From the milk of Churra and Castellana ewes and their F1 crosses with Spanish Assaf rams.
How long is Queso Zamorano matured?
Cheeses over 1.5 kg for at least 100 days, lighter ones for at least 60 days.
Is it true that Queso Zamorano can be made anywhere in Castile and León?
No. The name is protected only for cheese produced in the province of Zamora.
Similar
🧀 Roncal · 🧀 Queso Castellano · 🧀 Manchego · 🧀 Paški sir · 🧀 Queso Casín · 🧀 Pecorino Crotonese
ℹ️ Dairy products contain lactose and milk proteins: if you are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk protein, ask a doctor.
Sources
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 — OJ L 148, 21.6.1996
- eAmbrosia — Queso Zamorano (PDO-ES-0089)
- Amendment application and single document 'Queso Zamorano' — OJ C 449, 16.12.2014, p. 3
- Commission Implementing Regulation approving the amendment (Queso Zamorano) — OJ L 103, 2015