Pata de mulo cheese facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pata de mulo cheese |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Country of origin | Spain |
| Region | Tierra de Campos |
| Source of milk | Ewes |
| Texture | Hard and grainy |
| Dimensions | length 23 cm (9.1 in) width 13 cm (5.1 in) height 8 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 2 kg (4.4 lb) |
| Aging time | 2-6 months |
| Certification | pending |
Pata de mulo cheese is a special type of cheese from Spain. It is made from ewe's milk in a region called Tierra de Campos in Castilla y León. This cheese started out as an older, more aged version of another cheese called Villalón cheese. Villalón cheese is a fresh cheese made in Villalón de Campos.
The name "Pata de mulo" means "mule's leg" in Spanish. It got this name because of its long, unique shape. Cheesemakers used to shape it by hand using a special cheesecloth.
Contents
How Pata de Mulo Cheese is Made
Pata de mulo cheese is made using a process called enzymatic coagulation. This means special enzymes are used to help the milk turn into cheese. First, pasteurized sheep's milk is used. Pasteurization heats the milk to kill any harmful germs.
After the cheese is formed, it is placed in salty water called brine. This step adds flavor and helps preserve the cheese. Then, the cheese is left to age for about 3 to 6 months. This aging process gives the cheese its special taste and texture.
What Pata de Mulo Cheese is Like
This cheese has a very firm and compact texture. If you look closely, you will see that its inside is "blind," meaning it has no holes or "eyes." It can be a bit crumbly or flaky.
The color of the cheese inside is a bone white. In older, more aged cheeses, it can become an ivory white. The outside rind is yellow with a hint of orange-brown.
Pata de mulo cheese has a tubular shape. When you taste it, it reminds you of other aged sheep cheeses. However, it also has a slightly saltier and oilier flavor. People often enjoy it with wines from the Ribera del Duero region or with dry white wines.
Awards for Pata de Mulo Cheese
Some Pata de mulo cheeses have won awards at the World Cheese Awards. For example, cheeses made by a company called Los Payuelos have received high honors. In 2013, their "curado" (aged) Pata de mulo cheese won a Super Gold award. In 2017, their "semicurado" (semi-aged) cheese won a Silver award. These awards show how special and well-made this cheese is.
See also
In Spanish: Queso pata de mulo para niños
