Cured cheese

Cured cheese

Matured cheese from Spain

Ripened cheese is cheese that has undergone a ripening process involving drying and preservation techniques such as smoking or salting. During this process, cheeses undergo structural changes and acquire a harder, drier paste and a greater intensity of flavour and aroma.

For a cheese to be considered mature, the maturation time must be between 4 and 7 months, unlike semi-aged cheeses, which are matured for between 2 and 3 months.

Matured cheese is a culinary product with great flavour and aroma, obtained through a prolonged maturing process, which gives it a unique texture and characteristics.

Why buy ripened cheese?

Ripened cheese is ideal for those seeking intense flavours. During the ripening process, this type of cheese acquires a harder and drier texture, which allows it to stay fresh longer without refrigeration.

In addition, the flavour and aroma of ripened cheese is more pronounced than that of fresh or semi-ripened cheeses, making it ideal for those who enjoy complex flavours.

It is also high in fat, making it suitable for a wide variety of dishes, including appetizers and desserts. In conclusion, if you´re looking for an option to incorporate intense flavour into your dishes, aged cheese is the perfect choice, and if you pair it with the right pairing, you can enjoy its flavour and texture even more.

Characteristics of Spanish ripened cheeses

Mature cheeses are characterised by their long maturation, which gives them a strong and intense flavour.

The raw material used to make them, namely milk, gives them a particular flavour. Cow´s milk cheeses have a milder taste, sheep´s milk cheeses are more aromatic and salty and goat´s milk cheeses are strong and acid.

They also have a longer shelf life, are more dehydrated and contain more fat than other cheese varieties.

Duration of maturation of a matured cheese

The average maturing period of a mature cheese is between 4 and 7 months, but there are cheeses that mature longer, making them old cheeses. Some cheeses are matured for up to a year and a half and become fatter cheeses.

Typical matured cheeses from Spain

Manchego is one of Spain´s typical mature cheeses. The milk of the Manchego sheep is undoubtedly a top-quality raw material for making this product, which wins international awards every year.

Another typical product is Mahón-Menorca, named after the Balearic town where it is made. It is an uncooked pressed cow´s cheese.

Majorero Canario is a pasteurised raw milk Majorero goat´s cheese, typical of Fuerteventura, and is also an exceptional matured cheese.

Castellano ripened is a sheep´s cheese with a strong smell, the aroma of fresh milk and a very powerful flavour, although different from that of Manchego.

Aged sheep´s cheese
The main type of ripened cheese is sheep´s cheese and, as mentioned above, it is the most widely consumed, especially the Manchego variety.

Ripened sheep´s cheese is intense, aromatic and generally more acidic than goat´s or cow´s cheese.

Ripened goat´s cheese
The second most widely consumed ripened cheese is goat´s cheese, whose flavour is more characteristic of goat´s milk.

To enjoy mature cheese to the full, it is important to know how to prepare it and combine it correctly. To cut it, it is recommended to use a cheese knife, specially designed for hard cheeses.

Once cut, the cheese can be served on a board with fruit, nuts or quince for a perfect combination. To intensify the flavour, extra virgin olive oil can be added, which also helps to prolong the life of the cheese.

Where to buy the best matured Spanish cheeses?

If you want to buy the best matured cheeses from Spain from your home, Your Spanish Shop offers you the best alternatives and a wide variety of cheeses representative of our country. We deliver internationally, so that you can enjoy the flavour of this product at any time.