In other articles we have talked about the different designations of origin of the Basque Country, this time we want to talk about one of the most prestigious cheeses of the Basque Country, the Idiazabal cheese, a cheese that leaves no one indifferent. To taste an Idiazabal cheese is a mandatory task for every cheese lover and for all those who are not cheese lovers but like them, we must strongly recommend you to taste a good Idiazabal cheese and also without moving from home! If you do not believe it you can visit the official store of the idiazabal denomination of origin: Idiazabal Online Shop.
In order to obtain the best possible information, we contacted the people in charge of the Idiazabal denomination of origin, from their hand we offer you:
History of the idiazabal cheese, the Denomination of Origin of idiazabal is created in October 1987, with the purpose of authenticating an idiazabal cheese, so that the final consumer, that is to say, we, taste an authentic idiazabal cheese of Basque and Navarrese origin. Nowadays we can also say that thanks to the denomination of origin they have obtained a pleasant reward, since the name IDIAZABAL CHEESE is known internationally, something that without the denomination of origin would have been complicated.
From the denomination of origin they control the origin of the milk and the quality of the cheese (purity of the milk, fats, pathogenic bacteria, etc.), to control all this they have a Tasting Committee that verifies that the cheese has the typical and traditional characteristics of an idiazabal cheese.
Idiazabal cheese has hardly changed for more than 8,000 years, the Basque and Navarrese shepherds have followed the ancient route depending at all times of the year, the high altitude pastures in spring, summer and autumn, while in winter they go down to the valleys.
The sheep is of the latxa breed, a small, rustic, resistant and good lamb breeder that produces about 100 liters per season (February to July). We must take into account that in order to obtain a cheese of 1 kilo of idiazabal we need 7 liters of milk.
When it came to naming the denomination of origin, they had to choose among all the possible alternatives, that is to say, among all the regions that produced traditional Basque cheese with specific characteristics: Urbia, Aralar, Gorbea, etc. The idiazabal cheese was chosen because it was the best known at that time. Therefore we can call idiazabal cheese to all that cheese that being produced in Euskal Herria complies with the conditions and characteristics of the rules of the denomination of origin.
Characteristics of idiazabal cheese, it is a pure milk cheese from Latxa and Carranzana sheep, produced from raw milk, enzymatic coagulation (rennet), hard paste, minimum two months of curing, small or medium size, weighing approximately 3 kilos, can be smoked or unsmoked and fatty.
Where the sheep graze with which idiazabal cheese is made, we already mentioned in our previous article on cheeses from the Basque Country but we are going to repeat it so that our users are clear about its origin: A cheese made in the Basque Country and Navarre from the mountains of Urbasa, Urbia, Aralar, Gorbea, Andía, Carranza, Entzia, Orduña, Bidasoa-Baztan, Orbaiceta, Ulzama, Valcarlos, Navarrese Pyrenees.
Guarantees of the denomination of origin idiazabal, from the denomination of origin idiazabal they guarantee us that all cheese that takes its seal is of Basque and Navarrese production and elaboration, that the milk used is of sheep latxa or carranzana without mixture and without pasteurizing, that the minimum maturation of the cheese that we are going to eat is 2 months, the minimum fat content is 45%, the cheese passes without any problem tests of sanitary or organoleptic type and of course that the cheeses under this denomination of origin have a numbered rind.
Remember that in order for a cheese to obtain the Idiazabal trademark, it is necessary that it fulfills all the characteristics we have mentioned.
Do not hesitate and taste a good idiazabal cheese on your way through the Basque Country.
If you want to ask any question, do not hesitate, remember that it is not necessary to register to comment.
We leave you a video of the local television of the Basque country where they make a report of the denomination of origin Idiazabal:
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