Puzzone di Moena facts for kids
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| Region or state | Trentino-Alto Adige |
|---|---|
| 350 kcal (100 gr) kcal | |
Puzzone di Moena is a special Italian cheese. It's known for its strong smell and unique taste! In the Ladin language, it's called "Spretz tzaorì," which means "tasty pressed cheese."
This cheese has a washed rind and a firm, semi-hard texture. It is made from raw cow's milk. Puzzone di Moena comes from the Moena area in Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy. You can also find it in the Val di Fassa, Val di Fiemme, and Valle di Primiero valleys.
In 2013, Puzzone di Moena received a special European Union label called PDO. This means it can only be made in a specific region using traditional methods.
Contents
The Story of Puzzone di Moena
The story of this cheese goes back many years. In the past, farmers in the Val di Fassa made a cheese called "Nostrano fassano." This cheese had a greasy rind and a very strong smell. Similar cheeses were also made in nearby valleys.
After World War I, cheesemakers in Fassa started washing their "nostrano" cheeses with water and salt. This made the cheese even more flavorful and strong-smelling.
Poor mountain farmers really liked Nostrano Fassa cheese. Even a small piece could add a lot of flavor to their simple meals. They often ate it with polenta or potatoes.
In 1974, something funny happened on a radio show. The "Nostrano Fassa cheese" from Moena was jokingly called "Puzzone di Moena." This means "Smelly of Moena" in Italian. The name stuck, and soon everyone called it Puzzone di Moena!
This smelly cheese even won an award! In 1984, it won a bronze medal at a cheese competition in Grenoble, France. In 2014, the European Union officially recognized it as a PDO product.
What's in a Name?
The Ladin name spretz comes from a word meaning "pressed." In the past, cheesemakers would press cow's milk to get out as much butter as possible. Butter was very valuable. The cheese that was left over was low in fat and eaten by farmers.
The Italian name "puzzone" means "big stinky." This name comes from the cheese's strong smell. Even though it smells strong, its taste can be milder than some other strong cheeses, like blue cheeses.
What Puzzone di Moena is Like
- Look: It has a light straw color. You might see small to medium-sized holes, called eyes, in the cheese.
- Taste: It has a strong, slightly spicy flavor. You might notice a little bitter taste at the end.
- Smell: It has a very strong and unique smell. Some people describe it as smelling like animals or the forest floor.
- How it's made: It's a semi-hard cheese made from whole raw milk. The milk is heated to about 44°C (111°F).
- Shape and Size: It's shaped like a cylinder. It's about 9 to 11 cm (3.5 to 4.3 inches) tall and about 35 cm (13.8 inches) wide. Each cheese weighs around 10 kg (22 pounds).
- Aging: It is aged for at least three months, but sometimes up to six months.
- Rind: The rind is washed and has a brick-red color. It feels greasy.
How Puzzone di Moena is Made
During the first few weeks, the cheeses are turned over and wiped with warm, slightly salty water twice a week. Later, this is done once a week until the cheese is fully aged. This aging process takes place in a cool, humid room and can last from 3 to 8 months. This special treatment helps a unique coating form on the rind. This coating helps the cheese develop its special flavor and texture.
Other projects
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