IDENTIFiCATION MANCHEGO CHEESE

 

When you see a whole manchego cheese

- It will have a braided basketweave design around the outside, and its flat top and bottom will have lines dividing the surface into four equal parts.

- Natural color.  Depending on how it has been aged, the cheese may be ivory to light brown in color.  The rind may be coated with inactive transparent substances.

- The brand label must state that the cheese is made of 100% manchega ewe’s milk.  You might also see the word “manchego.”

- Manchego cheese can only be made in the area covered by the Denomination of Origin, which spans part of the Spanish provinces of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo.

The Manchego Cheese Denomination of Origin Regulating Council’s label, with its logotype and serial number.

When you see already-cut portions
      Check a whole cheese of the brand you want to buy to make sure it has all the signs of a true manchego cheese.

      The inside of the cheese should be white to ivory in color, depending on how long it was aged.

         The paste, or interior of the cheese, must look all the same throughout.  You may see a smooth surface, or there may be an uneven sprinkling of small holes.

On the back of the cheese will be the casein tab, where you can also see the term “manchego.”