Murcian wine cheese facts for kids
Murcian wine cheese (called queso de Murcia al vino in Spanish) is a special kind of cheese from the Murcia region in southeast Spain. It's made from the milk of goats.
This cheese has a special status called a Protected Designation of Origin. This means it can only be made in a specific way and in a certain area. It must use milk from special Murcian goats that are part of registered herds. The name al vino means "with wine". This is because the outside of the cheese is washed with red wine while it gets older.
You can find this cheese in different sizes. Smaller ones are about 6–7 cm (2-3 inches) tall and 7–9 cm (3-4 inches) wide, weighing around 400 g (14 ounces). Larger ones are 7–9 cm (3-4 inches) tall and 12–18 cm (5-7 inches) wide, weighing 1 kg (2.2 lbs) or 2 kg (4.4 lbs).
Contents
How Murcian Wine Cheese is Made
Making Murcian wine cheese involves several steps:
- Milking and Warming: Goats are milked every day. After the milk is filtered, it's gently warmed to about 30-34 °C (86-93 °F).
- Curdling: A special enzyme called rennet is added to the warm milk. This makes the milk thicken and turn into a soft mass called curd. This takes about 40 to 60 minutes.
- Cutting and Washing: The curd is then cut into small pieces, like tiny grains, about 6–8 mm (0.23-0.31 inches) in size. Some of the liquid, called whey, is removed and replaced with water.
- Heating and Shaping: The curd is heated a little more and then gently worked. It's then placed into round molds and pressed for 2–4 hours. This helps the cheese get its shape and the right acidity.
- Salting: Next, the cheese is put into a salty water bath (brine) for up to 20 hours. This adds flavor and helps preserve the cheese.
- Aging with Wine: The cheese then needs time to age. Smaller cheeses age for at least 30 days, while larger ones need at least 45 days. During this time, the cheeses are dipped several times in red wine from the region. This gives the rind its unique color.
What it Tastes Like
Murcian wine cheese has a pleasant, creamy taste. It's a little bit salty and has a mild smell. Inside, the cheese is white to light cream in color. It feels firm but also a bit stretchy. Even though the outside is washed with red wine, the wine color does not go into the cheese itself. You might see a few small holes or cavities inside the cheese.
The Rind (Outside Skin)
The rind of Murcian wine cheese is smooth and thin. It has a purplish-red color because of the red wine baths it gets during aging. Sometimes, you might see a criss-cross pattern pressed into the flat sides of the cheese.
How to Enjoy It
Like many other firm Spanish cheeses, Murcian wine cheese is often eaten in slices. It makes a great snack with a drink, or you can have it as part of a meal with fruits or nuts.
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