Padraccio facts for kids

Padraccio

Padraccio is a special Italian cheese that comes from a region called Basilicata. It's made in the beautiful area of the Pollino National Park. This cheese is known as a "traditional regional food product," which means it's a very old and important food from that specific part of Italy.

Padraccio cheese is made from a mix of milk. It uses milk from sheep and also from a rare type of goat called the Lucana Grey goat. This special goat lives in the Apennine mountains.

How Padraccio Cheese is Made

Padraccio cheese is usually made during the spring and summer months, from April to July. Here's how cheesemakers create it:

• First, they gently warm up fresh, raw milk to about 37 or 38 degrees Celsius (which is a little warmer than your body temperature).
• Then, they add something called rennet. Rennet is a natural ingredient that helps the milk turn solid and form soft clumps, like yogurt.
• After about 20 to 30 minutes, the milk becomes solid. These solid clumps are called curds.
• The cheesemakers then break up these curds and move them into a special wicker basket.
• They use their fingers and hands to work the cheese. They press it until it forms a round, ball-like shape.
• Padraccio is a fresh cheese, so it doesn't need any salt or a long time to age.
• Finally, the fresh cheese is wrapped in fern leaves. This helps keep it fresh and gives it a unique touch!