Montasio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Montasio
Country of origin	Italy
Source of milk	Cow's milk
Texture	Semi-hard, creamy
Fat content	32%
Aging time	Minimum of two months
Certification	PDO, 1986
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Montasio is a special cheese from the mountains of northeastern Italy. It's made from cow's milk in two Italian regions: Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto.

This cheese has a special status called a protected designation of origin (PDO). This means that only cheese made in a specific way and in these specific Italian areas can be called Montasio. It helps protect the quality and tradition of the cheese.

The Story of Montasio Cheese

Montasio cheese gets its name from the Montasio plateau, a mountain area where this cheese has been made for a very long time. People started making cheese here around the year 1200!

The first ways to make Montasio cheese were perfected at an old abbey called San Gallo di Moggio Udinese. An abbey is like a monastery where monks lived and worked.

We know the name "Montasio" was officially used by 1773. That year, the city of Udine made a rule about how much certain products, including this cheese, could be sold for. This showed how important Montasio cheese was even back then!

Later, in 1880, dairy farmers who made Montasio cheese started working together. They formed groups to help each other produce and sell the cheese. This was an early form of a cooperative movement.

Today, there's a special group called the Montasio Producers Association. This group makes sure that Montasio cheese is made correctly and helps with selling it. They were given this important job by the Italian government in 1987.

What Makes Montasio Cheese Special?

Montasio cheese has some unique features that make it popular.

• It's always made from fresh cow's milk.
• It comes from Italy, specifically the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions.
• It's known as a semi-hard cheese. This means it's not super soft like cream cheese, but not rock-hard either.
• If the cheese is aged for a longer time, it becomes harder.
• It has about 32% fat content, which gives it a rich taste.
• The texture is often creamy, especially when it's younger.
• It has a natural rind, which is the outer layer of the cheese.
• The color of Montasio cheese can be pale yellow or even golden. This depends on how long it has been aged.

How Montasio Cheese Ages

Aging is a very important part of making Montasio cheese. It's how the cheese develops its flavor and texture.

• Montasio cheese is usually aged for at least two months.
• Some types of Montasio are aged for a year or even longer! The longer it ages, the stronger and more complex its flavor becomes.
• The date when the cheese was made is often stamped right onto its rind. This helps people know how old the cheese is.

See also

In Spanish: Montasio para niños