mahón cheese
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Maó cheese (''formatge de Maó'' in the original Catalan, ''queso de Mahón'' in Spanish) is a soft to hard white
cheese Cheese is a dairy product produced in wide ranges of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep. During production, ...
made from cows'
milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digestion, digest solid food. Immune factors and immune ...
, named after the town and natural port of Maó (known as Mahón in Spanish), on the island of
Menorca Menorca or Minorca (from la, Insula Minor, , smaller island, later ''Minorica'') is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Majorca. Its capi ...
off the Mediterranean coast of
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
. Menorca is known for its cheese production and is home to one of the most respected dairy plants in Europe.Jenkins, Steven. 1996. ''Cheese Primer''. New York: Workman Publishing Company, Inc. 186-188.


History

Cheese is and has been an emblematic product of Menorca; made on the island with cow's milk, curdled at low temperature, salted by immersion and matured according to the customs of the island. Its production responds to ancestral traditions, being one of the pillars on which part of the history and livestock and culinary tradition of Menorca is based. Ceramic pieces have been found on the island around 2000 BC, or by other authors 3000 BC, which seems to have been part of the utensils used by farmers at the time to make cheese. There are written documents from the 5th century that mention the production and consumption of cheese in Menorca, where it is worth mentioning as a well-known letter from Bishop Sever, written around the year 417, where he mentions in Latin that Menorcans ate milk and cow's cheese. In 1985, the "Maó Cheese" Designation of Origin was obtained and its Regulatory Council was set up. In 1997, the protected name was changed to "Maó-Menorca Cheese".


Production

Nearly a century ago, the gatherer-ripeners were said to have emerged as a class of island society in
Menorca Menorca or Minorca (from la, Insula Minor, , smaller island, later ''Minorica'') is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Majorca. Its capi ...
. Their work consisted of trading and distributing farm products, seeds, utensils, foods, etc. In exchange they would receive fresh cheeses that the farmers brought to their houses. In order to store them, the ''recogedores'' had caves for the careful and novel aging of the cheeses. They controlled everything in production, from the changing winds and temperature level to the correct handling of the product. In so doing, they obtained the original cheese from Mahón; soft, aired or cured, that they would then sell in diverse markets of the islands and the peninsula. Their careful techniques made famous Mahón cheese, and helped to make it a sought-after export.
Menorca Menorca or Minorca (from la, Insula Minor, , smaller island, later ''Minorica'') is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Majorca. Its capi ...
's cattle are skillfully bred and have some of the highest milk production in Spain. All the milk from the 600 or so farms goes into dairy products. In 1985, the cheese from Maó received the Denominación de Origen.


Characteristics

Mahón has some characteristics specific to it, despite aging. In general the cheese is buttery sharp, slightly salty and lightly aromatic (sweet and nutty aromas) in taste. Mahón's sweet and fruity but at times slightly salty taste is due in part to the sea salt content in the grasses the cows eat. The rind is generally an orange color due to the rind being rubbed with butter, or oil, and paprika. As it reaches maturity (around 10 months) it tends to have small misshapen holes and has some granularity. In general, all aged Mahón has a proliferation of tiny holes.


Young Maó (artesà)

''Maó artesà'' or ''Mahón artesano'' (Catalan and Spanish for "artisanal Maó", respectively) is young, aged no longer than three months, and softer than traditional Maó. It is important to keep young Maó in the vegetable compartment of a refrigerator or cooler. It should be stored in airtight plastic wrapping to preserve its softness.


Aged Maó

Conversely, harder, more aged Maó should be wrapped in foil or waxed paper.


Uses

*Maó is considered one of the most versatile cheeses of the Spanish gastronomy. *The creamy texture suggests it be served over pasta, potato, rice and/or vegetable dishes. *The traditional manner of eating Maó consisted of sliced cheese, sprinkled with olive oil, black pepper and tarragon. *Most of the production of this cheese is used to make
processed cheese Processed cheese (also known as process cheese, cheese food, prepared cheese, cheese product, or plastic cheese) is a food product made from cheese and unfermented dairy ingredients mixed with emulsifiers. Additional ingredients, such as vegeta ...
(''queso fundido'', not to be confused with the cheese dish of the same name).Fox, P. F. (ed.) (1999
''Cheese: Chemistry, Physics and Microbiology (Major Cheese Groups)'' Springer.
Google Books. Retrieved 11 October 2013.


See also

*
List of cheeses This is a list of cheeses by place of origin. Cheese is a milk-based food that is produced in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms. Hundreds of types of cheese from various countries are produced. Their styles, textures and flavors depe ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahon cheese Catalan cuisine Spanish cheeses Cow's-milk cheeses Mahón Spanish products with protected designation of origin