Mallorca cheese

Mallorca
Mallorca
	Cow, goat, sheep
Texture	Semi-hard
	Related media on Commons

Mallorca cheese (in

Protected Designation of Origin and is made from the pasteurized milk of cows, goats and/or sheep which live on the island. The cheeses are slightly tapering, flat cylinders which measure 12–20 cm (5-8 inches) across and 7-9 cm (3-4 inches) high. They weigh from 750 g to 4 kg (1.5-9 lbs). Mallorca cheese is produced in three types:^[1]

Semi-cured — matured for at least 20 days.

Cured — matured for at least 45 days.

Aged — matured for at least 100 days.[1]

Manufacture

The milk is coagulated by animal

relative humidity of up to 95%. The minimum time for curing is 20 days. From 7 days after the brine bath the cheeses are turned and the rinds rubbed with olive oil. This procedure is repeated several times assisting the maturation and causing the rind to achieve the characteristic colour and aroma.^[1] The production is seasonal, since it is not made in summer. ^[2]

Typical loafs of Mallorquin cheese are rather small, approximately 6 x 15 cm, weighing between 500 and 1500 grams. The shape is square with rounded corners.

Flavour

The aroma is predominantly dairy, smelling a little of butter or yoghurt in older cheeses. The intensity of the aroma increases with maturation of the cheese. The taste is slightly salty and slightly acid, the after-taste increases with the age of the cheese. Well matured cheese may have a slight pepperiness and a slight astringency.[1]

Texture

The cheese cuts easily, the cut surface being smooth and slightly shiny. The texture is firm and dense but a little elastic and white to ivory-white in colour. Depending on the age of the cheese there may be a few small cavities throughout the cheese.^[1]

Rind

The colour can vary from yellow to brownish, depending on the age of the cheese. The rind is soft and of medium thickness.^[1]

Uses

Eaten as a sliced snack either alone with wine or beer or as part of a meal with fruit and/or nuts.

Mallorcan cheese in medieval Catalan cuisine

Vinyoles mentions the following culinary specialties in which the use of Mallorcan cheese is documented:^[3]

The sauce known as "allimantega" (made with garlic, butter, Mallorcan cheese and eggs)
The sauce known as "almadroc" (made with garlic and Mallorcan cheese)
Noodles (scratched).
Macaroni (grated).
Rubiols (fresh cheese, Mallorcan cheese and eggs).
Goat filling (this stuffing is documented on the table of Pere III: leafy parsley, mescal, honey and Mallorcan cheese).
Fried cheeses (they are documented in the table of King Peter III, "for dinner").
Mallorcan cheese with pears.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Spanish Professional Cheesemaker website". Queseros.com. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
^ ^a ^b http://www.slowfoodib.org/pdf/descargas/N%C2%BA2-FICHAS%20ARCA%20GUSTO%20IB/N%C2%BA2%20-%20Fichas%20arca%20del%20gusto%20IB-%20Formatge%20de%20Ovella%20Roja%20Mallorquina.pdf
^ VIDAL, Teresa-María Vinyoles i Vidal (1991). Notes sobre el formatge de Mallorca. p. 47.

External links

Translation of Spanish reference page

[Mallorca-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Spanish Professional Cheesemaker website". Queseros.com. Retrieved 2012-08-22.

[:0-2] ttp://www.slowfoodib.org/pdf/descargas/N%C2%BA2-FICHAS%20ARCA%20GUSTO%20IB/N%C2%BA2%20-%20Fichas%20arca%20del%20gusto%20IB-%20Formatge%20de%20Ovella%20Roja%20Mallorquina.pdf

[3] VIDAL, Teresa-María Vinyoles i Vidal (1991). Notes sobre el formatge de Mallorca. p. 47.

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