(Pico cheese)
This hard cheese is produced exclusively on the island of Pico in the Portuguese Azores. The climate on the island, although quite harsh, is particularly good for raising cattle. Due to the fact that the island was separated from the mainland by long boat trips in the past, the only way to make use of the milk produced by the island's cattle was to produce cheese. Pico is made from cow's milk that's curdled with animal rennet.
The curd is salted and formed into cheeses that are left to mature for a month in cold and humid conditions. Pico cheese is round, flat, and smooth with a yellow rind and a doughy white interior with a soft texture. Its fat content is about 50%, making it very moist, and it has a strong, salty flavor and an intense aroma.
The cheese is traditionally consumed at the end of a big meal, ideally accompanied by Verdelho do Pico wine.
Pairing tips
Verdelho
Verdelho is a white Portuguese grape that is mostly grown on Madeira Islands, and which is often used in fortified Madeira wines. The grape, dry varietal wines,... Read more
