Reggianito facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Reggianito
Country of origin	Argentina
Source of milk	Pasture-fed cows
Texture	Hard, granular
Aging time	6 months

Reggianito is a very hard, crumbly cheese that comes from Argentina. It is made from cow's milk. This cheese was created by Italian immigrants who moved to Argentina. They wanted to make a cheese that reminded them of their favorite cheese from Italy, called Parmigiano Reggiano.

The name "Reggianito" means "little Reggiano" in Spanish. This is because Reggianito cheese is made in smaller wheels. Traditional Parmigiano Reggiano comes in very large wheels.

What is Reggianito Cheese?

Reggianito is known for being a very hard and granular cheese. "Granular" means it has a crumbly texture, like tiny grains. It is often used for cooking. People also love to grate it over pasta dishes, just like Parmesan cheese.

How is Reggianito Made?

This cheese is aged for about five to six months. This aging process helps it develop its hard texture and rich flavor. While this is a long time for a hard cheese from South America, it is shorter than the aging time for Parmigiano Reggiano. Parmigiano Reggiano usually ages for a year or even longer.

Reggianito and Parmesan

After World War I, cheesemakers in Italy noticed that Reggianito was becoming very popular. It was even competing with their famous Parmigiano Reggiano in other countries. Because of this, they decided to create the Parmigiano-Reggiano consortium. A consortium is a group that works together to protect a product's name and quality.

In the United States, Reggianito is often sold simply as "Parmesan" cheese. This shows how similar it is to the Italian original, even though it comes from Argentina.

See also

In Spanish: Reggianito para niños