Italian Pecorino Cheese, Pienza’s Pride and Secret
Have you ever had cheese made from Sheep milk or rather Ewe’s milk?
Cheese from Sheep milk is called Pecorino. Pienza is famous for this local farm product. Italy has wide variety of cheese, all with specific names to indicate the variety. The cow milk cheese, formaggio, is hardly consumed in Tuscany region.
Pecorino is famous here. They are so popular and sought after that they vanish from counters the moment they are stocked. The huge size of these blocks of cheese attracted me; I held one in hand to assess its weight. My thoughts raced to the luggage that had increased over the days spent in Italy, pity I had to leave it behind.
What makes Pecorino Cheese of Pienza different?
The quality of the cheese depends a lot on what the sheep eats and this reminded me of the story of Heidi. In the story Heidi’s grandfather goes in search of wild herbs to feed sheep so that the milk from the sheep would help her friend heal faster and be able to walk soon.
So after all it is true! Milk from sheep that eat wild herbs is very strong and those that eat planted grains yield softer cheese. According to farmers of Pienza, their famous farm yields, pecorino, is the unique combination of Sardinian sheep, Tuscan grass, wild fennel, clover, and wormwood, the infamous herb that is the primary ingredient of liquor.
Fun with Cheese Rolling
Other than eating these, the blocks of cheese have one more use in Pienza. Visit the place on first Sunday of September and you can witness the cheese rolling competition. Participants roll the cheese block to see whose cheese rolls the farthest.
Pecorino cheese Pienza
How to eat Pecorino Cheese?
Pecorino should be taken out of the refrigerator about an hour before being eaten, in order to let it regain its natural softness and to open up its taste. It is excellent when flavoured with some good olive oil.
Pecorino can also be served as a dessert cheese, with honey dripped onto a very thin slice but this is not a particularly successful combination. Since the mature pecorino is much sharper tasting, it is generally sliced into thin shavings to be eaten alone or with sliced cured meats.
I love a good pecorino especially with cured meats. I’ve never carried one, but I believe you – they do look heavy! It’s interesting to learn that it’s milk from sheep that eat wild herbs that give pecorino it’s unique, or should I say strong, flavour. I’ve been to the South of Italy, but yet to explore the north. Pienza sounds worth visiting especially in September for the cheese rolling competition.
I love cheese, though not the smeely ones. It probably takes time to develope a taste for them righ?
Very interesting. Never tried cheese from a foreign country.
Hi Indrani! Pecorino is a great cheese!!
Delicious!
I always learn something new and exciting when I am here.
Happy Christmas to you and your loved ones!
Wow so big! Cheese is pricey in Bangkok. This photo makes me long for those moments I eat cheese to my heart's content without worrying about breaking the wallet.
Cheeeeesssseee 🙂
I love cheese! Great shots.
Happy Holidays.
Regards.
I love cheese!
Mouth-watering!
I love cheese, yummy
Beautiful picture and lovely blog!
Short Poems
Check this, Indrani:
http://rnsane.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-am-honored-bhavesh-chhatbar-and-list.html
Hi, very interesting this.. and delicious picture:)
Byy..
Very interesting
"Sol brilliant" is the gift that the legendary award-Charade wanted to send me, I'm glad to share it with you, if you want to withdraw it on my blog.
bella!
Aloha from Hawaii
Comfort Spiral
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ya, tried this one. But , like they say, its acquired taste !!! 🙂
Nice photo of the stacked rounds.
Great photo of a product for the table of us Italians is essential!!
I love cheese, so this post appeals to my heart! Looks delicious.
Wonderful photo and I have never eaten Pecorino. I will have to remember your post in case I come across it. Thanks Indrani.
It sounds so delicious!
Beautful image, Indrani. In about one hour's car from Turin we can buy the very good, original Fontina della Val d'Aosta.
YUM!!!
I love cheese, any cheese. But my heart and palate always lean towards the goat cheeses, the softer varieties.
I like this cheese. Beautiful picture.
The cheese rolling must be something to see. I don't think I've ever had any Pecorino, but I wouldn't mind going to Pienza to have some.
I like not all Italian food 😛
Dutch cheese is very soft from taste.
Our is better hahahaha…
I wish you could try it !!!
Beautiful picture. Looks like cheese heaven.
Nice picture…i like italian food.
Greetings, Joop
Beautiful cheeses and fantastic picture.
Now i know about a cheese called Pecorino! thanks..
Very interesting post and beautiful photo.Greetings Andrzej.
Wow….really nice.
nice to know abt new cheese.
I love cheese and there are so many different tastes around the world. It's amazing. In Cyprus we have a unique cheese call it "HALLOUMI"! Kind regards and bon appetit!
Its nice popping over here again 🙂 and I see you have been busy travelling, so much fun. I'd like to have a bite of that cheese for sure.
Hey i love cheese .I really want to know how to make it.Thanks for sharing.I always want to say cheese..lol.I love to eat while watching movies online