The AnyCheese Holiday Gift Guide

Cheeses from Portugal

A guide to cheeses from Portugal, highlighting the country's most notable and diverse varieties.

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Queijo de Azeitão

Queijo de Azeitão is a Portuguese cheese from the town of Azeitão, produced in Setúbal, Palmela and Sesimbra. It holds EU PDO status and was named one of the 50 best gastronomic products in the world at the 2014 Great …

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Sheep
Texture: Semi-Soft
Flavor: Slightly piquant, a mix of sharp and salty

Queijo Serra da Estrela

Serra da Estrela is a sheep's milk cheese from the mountains of central Portugal, protected as a PDO in the European Union and the UK. It is coagulated with thistle instead of rennet, and its paste runs from nearly semi-liquid …

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Sheep
Texture: Closed, slightly buttery, creamy and smooth (standard); closed or with some eyes, slightly dry crumbly body (Velho)
Flavor: Smooth, clean, and slightly acidic (standard); pleasant, lingering, clean, strong to slightly strong and slightly spicy/salty (Velho)

Queijo São Jorge

Queijo São Jorge is a semi-hard to hard cow's milk cheese made only on the island of São Jorge in the Azores. It is known for its firm, brittle yellowish paste, small irregular holes, and a strong, slightly spicy flavor …

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Cow
Texture: Firm consistency, hard or semi-hard
Flavor: Peppery, grassy

Amarelo de Beira Baixa

Amarelo de Beira Baixa is a semi-firm cheese originating from the Beira Baixa Province in Portugal. Made from unpasteurized goat's or sheep's milk, it features a rich yellow color. The cheese has an acidic flavor profile, offering a tangy taste …

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Goat's or sheep's milk
Texture: Semi-firm, artisan
Flavor: Acidic

Zimbro

Zimbro is a soft, artisan cheese from Portugal made from unpasteurized sheep's milk. It has a pale yellow color and a washed rind, contributing to its clean aroma. The cheese offers a sweet flavor with herbal notes, making it a …

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Soft, artisan
Flavor: Herbaceous, sweet

Castelo Branco

Castelo Branco is a soft Portuguese cheese made from goat or sheep milk and named after the city of Castelo Branco. It has carried a Protected Designation of Origin since 1996 and runs about 45% fat.

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Goat's and sheep's milk
Texture: Semisoft to hard
Flavor: Sour, spicy, tangy

Queijo Serpa

Queijo Serpa is a cured, semi-soft cheese from Serpa in the Alentejo region of Portugal, made with raw sheep milk set with cardoon extract. It holds PDO status and is listed on the Ark of Taste.

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Sheep
Texture: Buttery, semi-soft consistency
Flavor: Almost fermented, sweet and bitter

Rabacal

Rabaçal is a Portuguese sheep's and goat's milk cheese from the village of Rabaçal in the Coimbra district, protected as a DOP since 1996. It is sold mainly as a hard cheese with a delicate, balanced taste that sharpens as …

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Goat's and sheep's milk
Texture: Semi-hard, artisan
Flavor: Smooth

Queijo do Pico

Queijo do Pico is a cured cow's milk cheese from the island of Pico in the Azores. It cures for 20 to 30 days into a flat cylinder with a yellow crust and a soft, pasty interior, and it has …

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Soft
Flavor: Creamy, salty

Bica de Queijo

Bica de Queijo is a semi-soft, artisan cheese from Póvoa de Lanhoso in Portugal. It is crafted using a blend of cow's, goat's, and sheep's unpasteurized milk, giving it a rich and creamy texture. With a 45% fat content, the …

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Cow's, goat's and sheep's milk
Texture: Semi-soft, artisan
Flavor: Buttery, mild, salty

Alverca

Alverca is a semi-hard cheese from Portugal, made from either goat's or sheep's milk. The cheese undergoes a pasteurization process and has a fat content ranging from 40-50%. It is aged for about six months, which contributes to its firm …

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Goat's or sheep's milk
Texture: Semi-hard

Evora De L'Alentejo

Evora De L'Alentejo is a semi-hard cheese made from unpasteurized sheep's milk in the Alentejo region of Portugal. This artisan cheese is known for its pale yellow color and natural rind. It has an acidic and spicy flavor, which gives …

Country: Portugal
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Semi-hard, artisan
Flavor: Acidic, spicy

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