Best Spanish Soft Cheese Types
Arzùa-Ulloa is a cheese made from raw or pasteurized cow’s milk. This cheese is produced in Galicia, in Northwestern Spain, where it matures for at least 6 days. It is a mild cheese whose flavor is reminiscent to that of butter and yogurt.
The cheese has a smooth and somewhat waxy rind dotted with blue or white mold spots. The interior hides a smooth, velvety texture and is white to pale yellow in color. Arzùa-Ulloa is often served as a component of a dessert, but it can also be melted over toasted bread.
Pair with
Torta del Casar is a cheese made from unpasteurized sheep’s milk in the districts of Los Llanos de Cáceres, Sierra de Fuentes and Montánchez in the province of Cáceres near the Portuguese border. It is named after Casar de Cáceres, its city of origin, and torta or atortao, referring to its shape.
Torta del Casar is a very rare delicacy since the Merino and Entrefina sheep, which are farmed in the traditional way, yield very low amounts of milk. An interesting fact about this cheese is that it is renneted with cardoon, a wild thistle, which causes the cheese to soften during maturation and adds a slightly bitter note to the final product.
Pair with
Tupí is a traditional Catalan cheese made from cow's, goat's, or sheep's milk that is mixed with liqueurs or olive oil. The cheese is fermented in a clay pot (called tupí, hence the name) and has an intense, spicy, tangy, and fruity flavor.
It doesn't need to be refrigerated, so it is traditionally consumed straight from the pot. Tupí is often seasoned with garlic, and in order to subdue its powerful flavor, it is sometimes combined with honey, butter, or tomato sauces. It is recommended to serve this spreadable cheese with bread and a glass of strong wine.
Also known as Torta de La Serena, this soft cheese is produced in the Spanish southwestern province of Badajoz and made exclusively with raw, whole milk from the Merino sheep breed. To coagulate the milk, only wild milk thistle rennet is used, which is an ancient Moorish and Jewish dietary custom.
After about 60 days of aging, La Serena cheese still has a runny consistency and is traditionally eaten by slicing off the top and scooping out the inside with a spoon. If aged for a longer period of time, Queso de La Serena becomes harder and develops a much stronger, creamy to buttery flavor.
Queso de Burgos is a Spanish cheese made from pasteurized or unpasteurized cow's and sheep's milk. The cheese has a pure white color, and it is traditionally shaped into a wheel with characteristical ridges on top. Its texture is silky and creamy, while the flavors are very mild, fresh, milky, and slightly acidic.
It is recommended to pair it with honey, walnuts, and dry white wines.
Afuega'l Pitu is one of the most famous and oldest Spanish cheeses. It is a full-fat cheese, made from pasteurized whole cows’ milk, that has a very sharp and piquant flavor and is sometimes seasoned with a mixture of paprika and chili powder.
It is slightly salty and acidic, creamy and soft in texture and has a mild aroma. The majority of this cheese is made during the winter and spring in the municipality of Grado. Afuega'l Pitu is cone shaped, usually weighs between 200 and 600 grams, and is white to orange in color.
Mató is a sweet, unsalted, unfermented, fresh cheese produced in the Spanish region of Catalonia. It is traditionally served as a dessert with honey or jam, known as mel i mató. In Catalonia, the cheese is regularly sold when only a day or two old, when it is turned out of the shallow baskets in which it has been drained.
Visually, mató is reminiscent of ricotta, curd cheese, or cottage cheese. In the past, the cheese was made with goat's milk because no one could afford to buy a cow, but today it is made with cow's milk as well. Mató was extremely popular during the Middle Ages, when it was either made plain or flavored with orange flowers.
La retorta mini is a smaller version of retorta cheese. The cheese is made from raw sheep's milk and it's produced in Trujillo, Spain, where it matures for at least 60 days. La retorta mini is round and small, with a creamy and soft paste.
The color is ivory, while the flavors are rich and intense, and the aromas are floral and strong. The cheese is traditionally eaten with a spoon after the top cover of the cheese has been removed. It is recommended to spread it on toasted bread, then pair it with honey.
Tortita de Barros is a Spanish cheese originating from the region of Extremadura. The cheese is made from either raw goat's or, more commonly, sheep's milk. It's left to age for 60 days before consumption. Underneath its thin lace-wrapped rind, the texture is smooth and open, with small eyes unevenly scattered throughout the paste.
The aromas are herbaceous and earthy, while the flavors are fresh, goaty, and milky, with a slightly bitter finish coming from the thistle rennet. It's recommended to pair the cheese with a glass of Barolo or Chianti. Tortita de Barros can also be baked, when it's usually sprinkled with marjoram and smoked paprika.
La Gomera refers to a group of cheeses made in La Gomera, Canary Islands. The cheeses are made from raw goat's milk which can also sometimes be mixed with sheep's milk. They come in three varieties – soft, semi-cured, or cured. As expected, the flavors vary across the varieties – the soft one is mild in flavor, while the cured one has a stronger flavor.
The entire production process is entirely handmade and when not eaten as it is, La Gomera is a key ingredient in local dishes such as almogrote gomero.
Best Spanish Soft Cheese Producers
Quesos & Besos is a charming artisanal cheese company known for its commitment to quality and tradition. Based in Spain, this company specializes in handcrafted cheeses that celebrate the rich flavors and diverse textures of Spanish cheese-making heritage.
Their product range includes a variety of cheeses made from both cow's and goat's milk, often featuring unique flavor profiles that highlight local ingredients and traditional techniques. Each cheese is crafted with care, ensuring high quality and exceptional taste.
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/706d8efcb0874848b67db7eb90850514.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021
![2 stars](/images/productawards/0f0ce23af0f14517afdc9d4a3a745a3d.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
BEST Quesos De Radiquero Cheeses
Galbani Cheese is an iconic Italian brand that has been producing high-quality cheese for over a century. Founded in 1882 in Italy, it is renowned for its rich tradition of craftsmanship and expertise in cheese-making. Galbani offers a wide range of cheeses, including mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan, and mascarpone, each made with the finest ingredients to deliver exceptional flavor and texture.
Galbani's mozzarella is especially popular, widely used in pizzas, pastas, and salads, and is loved for its delicate texture and creamy taste. The brand is committed to maintaining traditional production methods while innovating to meet the demands of modern consumers.
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/0f0ce23af0f14517afdc9d4a3a745a3d.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
![2 stars](/images/productawards/c1c1a0e931c2412b915bc06cf14c6c2a.png?w=160)
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2019
![2 stars](/images/productawards/bb113f0e319a4d7f976e2b7c728386e7.png?w=160)
American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2023, 2019, 2017, 2013, 2010, 2008, 2001
BEST Galbani Cheese Cheeses
Lacteas Cobreros is a family-owned dairy company based in Santa María del Páramo, Spain. Established in 1968, the company specializes in the production of goat cheese, as well as other dairy products like sheep cheese. Lacteas Cobreros is recognized for its commitment to traditional cheese-making techniques while also incorporating modern technology to enhance production quality and efficiency.
Oh My Cheese is a specific brand within the Lácteas Cobreros portfolio, focusing on cheese products and offering a variety of cheeses for consumers.
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/706d8efcb0874848b67db7eb90850514.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021
![2 stars](/images/productawards/bc053d8503464b85939e2b4981ff43f9.png?w=160)
Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2019
![2 stars](/images/productawards/c6eb14d3d0b14360beeec503135d12b6.png?w=160)
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2022
BEST Lacteas Cobreros Cheeses
BEST Queso Las Garmillas Cheeses
BEST Edén Autentico Cheeses
Best Spanish Soft Cheeses
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/706d8efcb0874848b67db7eb90850514.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021
![2 stars](/images/productawards/a7f0291437514d61af27aa761d02648d.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023
Soft goat cheese, made using lactic coagulation of pasteurised goat's milk, natural rennet and no preservatives or additives. Its blue mould layer on the outside, penicillium roqueforti, and its white interior make it an unmistakable cheese. Its blue layer is edible and forms the basis of its flavours.
It is recommended to cut it with a lyre.
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/706d8efcb0874848b67db7eb90850514.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021
![2 stars](/images/productawards/0f0ce23af0f14517afdc9d4a3a745a3d.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
Camembeso from Quesos & Besos is a delicious cheese inspired by traditional Camembert but with unique characteristics that reflect Spanish flavors. Camembeso is a soft, creamy cheese with a bloomy white rind. The cheese features a mild, slightly tangy taste with earthy notes.
As it ages, the flavor intensifies, developing a more robust profile while retaining its creaminess.
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/706d8efcb0874848b67db7eb90850514.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021
Rulo de cabra Cobreros made by Lacteas Cobreros is a type of goat cheese in the form of a log, often characterized by its creamy texture and mild, tangy flavor distinctive to goat’s milk cheeses. It is produced by Lacteas Cobreros, a company based in Spain known for specializing in dairy products, particularly goat cheeses.
Rulo de cabra Cobreros can be consumed alone or can be included in salads, baked dishes, or as a topping on toasted bread, due to its ability to melt beautifully. This cheese is appreciated for its versatility and its distinct flavor that complements various types of foods.
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/c6eb14d3d0b14360beeec503135d12b6.png?w=160)
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/c6eb14d3d0b14360beeec503135d12b6.png?w=160)
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/685193743a86424ba705bab09e33a2be.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/0f0ce23af0f14517afdc9d4a3a745a3d.png?w=160)
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
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