Parmigiano Reggiano PDO Cheese

Description

Parmigiano Reggiano PDO

Often referred to as Parmesan, Parmigiano Reggiano is known the world over. It has PDO status meaning it can only be made in certain provinces of Italy on the plains between the Rivers Po and Reno.

Parmigiano Reggiano is the best selling PDO product worldwide. In 2016 3.6 million wheels were made, that’s a lot of wonderful cheese! In 2019 the cheese came runner up at the World Cheese Awards. The final was very exciting as 2 cheeses were tied in first spot. The head judge had to taste both and announce his favourite. The competition was being held in Italy so you can imagine the disappointment when the Italian cheese came second. However in our eyes, Parmigiano Reggiano is one of the best cheeses there is.

We buy our Parmigiano Reggiano from a small, specialist Italian importer who only buys from producers she knows. Most of her purchases are sold through her market stall but she also buys some extra cheeses and salamis that she sends on to us.

The crystals that appear in the Parmigiano Reggiano form naturally during the maturation period of the cheese. Water is lost from the cheese during the ageing process which causes the calcium lactate to become more concentrated and these crystals can form. They are a completely natural by-product of cheesemaking and are totally harmless when eaten.

In Italy it is considered wasteful to use this fabulous cheese in cooking (they tend to use the less expensive Grana Padano), instead they enjoy cubes of Parmigiano on their cheeseboards alongside a glass of a deep, rich Barolo.

Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)

MILK, salt, rennet.