What is Manchego?

Manchego is the most famous cheese export of Spain, originating in La Mancha, which also happens to be home of Don Quixote, Spain's most famous literary export. True Spanish Manchego is made from the milk of sheep, because the rocky and hostile terrain of that part of Spain did not permit the cultivation of cattle. It is a delicious, firm cheese that is sold in both young and aged forms, with a varying intensity of flavor depending on how aged the cheese is. It is also crumbly and dry. Being made from sheep's milk, it has a higher fat content than cow's cheese, which is in turn fattier than that made from goat's milk.

This cheese has a characteristic crosshatched rind that it traditionally receives from the basket it was aged in. The rind is typically wrapped in black wax, revealing a creamy white to pale yellow cheese inside, which tends to be flaky and pockmarked. Young Manchego, also called cured Manchego, has a mellow flavor, while aged cheese has a distinct peppery bite.

Manchego is made by heating milk with rennet and special cultures so that the milk curdles. The milk curds that are formed are subsequently pressed to remove the whey, and then brined to encourage the cheese to form a hard rind. After brining, it is allowed to age after being smeared with olive oil to prevent the development of harmful bacteria. After 13 weeks, it can be sold as cured Manchego, and after three months or more, it is considered to be aged.

Because Manchego is made from the milk of sheep, it has several distinct characteristics that separate it from similar brined cow's milk cheeses. Manchego tends to have a much more assertive bite. It also tends to taste more strongly of the diet of the sheep, having notes of herbs and plants in the final product, along with a lanolin scent. When the cheese is unwrapped, it often smells strongly of sheep, suggesting the scent of roast lamb to some consumers.

Manchego is considered to be a superb cheese by many people, and may complement any meal. It goes well with robust red wines and crisp fruits such as apples. It also takes well to grilling and baking, although it will not fully melt like some cow's milk cheeses do. The flavor is strong and will linger on the taste buds, developing additional flavors if the cheese consumer savors it. For this reason, some people do not enjoy this cheese — the "sheepish" flavor is not to everyone's liking. Manchego is well worth a try, however, and can be found in cheese markets all over the world.