Extremadura, in western Spain on the border with Portugal, makes four cheeses with protected designation of origin: Torta del Casar and Torta de la Serena, both soft sheep’s milk cheeses so creamy you eat them with a spoon, and Queso Ibores and Queso de Acehúche, firmer goat’s milk cheeses often rubbed with paprika. Torta del Casar is the most famous, and wheels from its makers have won Super Gold at the World Cheese Awards.
Extremadura is rustic Spain at its best, from the Roman city of Mérida to the medieval towns of Cáceres and Trujillo, and its cheeses travel far beyond it. I have seen them in gourmet shops in London, New York and Seoul.
What makes Torta del Casar different?
It is made from raw milk of Merino and Entrefina sheep, curdled not with animal rennet but with the flowers of a wild thistle, Cynara cardunculus. That gives a soft, slightly bitter edge. After at least 60 days of aging, the center turns creamy. To serve it, slice off the top rind like a lid and scoop the cheese out with bread or a spoon.
What are the four PDO cheeses of Extremadura?
| Cheese | Milk | Texture | Look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torta del Casar | Raw sheep’s milk | Spoonable | Thistle-curdled, from Casar de Cáceres |
| Torta / Queso de la Serena | Raw Merino sheep’s milk | Spoonable young, firm when aged | The milk of about 15 sheep makes 1 kg of cheese |
| Queso Ibores | Raw goat’s milk | Semi-firm | Rind plain, oiled or rubbed with pimentón |
| Queso de Acehúche | Raw goat’s milk | Semi-hard | Rind sometimes coated in paprika or oil |
Is Torta del Casar like Portugal’s Serra da Estrela?
Very much. Serra da Estrela, Portugal’s best-known cheese, is also a soft sheep’s milk cheese curdled with thistle and eaten with a spoon. If you love one, try the other, and a journey that crosses from Extremadura into Portugal can include both.
Can you bring these cheeses home to the United States?
Cheese is generally allowed in your luggage, unlike Spanish ham and sausages, which US customs does not permit. Pack it in checked luggage and declare all food on arrival. More ideas in our guide to the best souvenirs from Spain.
Want a day among the cheesemakers and Roman ruins of Extremadura? Tell your planner, and we add it to your route between Madrid and Seville or Lisbon, as on our Madrid to Lisbon journey.
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