Queso Payoyo Cheese from Andalucía - 14 Ounces

- From Grazalema, a high-altitude nature preserve
- Made from 85% goat's milk, 15% sheep's milk
- Handmade in Villaluenga del Rosario, population 471
- From local Payoyo goats and Grazalema sheep
- Named Best Cheese in Spain 2013
- Size - 1.1 lbs/500 gr
Imagine an ideal blend of tangy goat's milk cheese and rich sheep's milk cheese in one decadent bite. Queso Payoyo marries these two cherished characters of the dairy world to create a cheese so flavorful, balanced and fragrant it is utterly addictive. Though this Spanish cheese resembles the famed Manchego with its crosshatch rind, this butter-colored cheese is softer and creamier.
Payoyo is so delicious it was named Spain's Best Cheese by the Ministry of Agriculture in its category in 2013. Plus it won a bronze medal in 2014 from the World's Best Cheese awards.
Before you indulge, tempt your taste buds by enjoying the cheese’s aroma and find hints of herbs, butter and cheesecake. Then place a thin slice on your tongue where it will melt and release its sweet, perfectly salted flavor followed by a welcome, tangy finish. Add this lesser known cheese to your cheese or tapas platter, enjoy with crusty bread or simply pair bites with a medium-bodied red wine or dry sherry.
Payoyo cheese is crafted out of loyalty to the classic cheeses of the region. Produced from the goats and sheep of local farmers in Grazalema, it is recognized in the catalog of traditional cheeses from Spain and the European Economic Community. The Payoyo goats are a rare and prized breed whose milk has contributed to this cheese’s internationally celebrated and award winning status.
It all started when Andrés Peña and Carlos Rios decided to recover the local cheese-making tradition that had almost been lost to modern ways. They committed themselves to only using milk from the ancient breeds of this area: Payoyo goats and Grazalema Merina sheep. They wander the wild hillsides eating grasses and herbs, lending a delicious complexity to the cheeses. The Payoyo factory is based in the village of Villaluenga del Rosario, population 471, and is a centerpiece to the local economy.
Grazalema is a beautiful, rugged, mountainous area in the province of Cádiz. Surprisingly, for a town in Andalucía, it is the rainiest place in Spain due to the fact that the mountains around it are the first barriers that the clouds from the Atlantic Ocean meet upon hitting land. Much of the region is a nature park since a reserve was established there in 1977.
Ingredients
Pasteurized goat's milk, sheep's milk, salt, rennet, milk enzymes and egg lysozyme.
Contains MILK, EGG.
All information listed on our website, including nutrient content information, ingredient lists, and information relating to health claims is for informational purposes only and not provided as medical advice. You should carefully read all information in the actual product packaging and labels, including for food allergen, nutrient content and qualified health claims before using or consuming a product. La Tienda does not assume any liability for inaccuracies or misstatements about products.
Use and Care
This cheese may be refrigerated up to 6 months when unopened, and 3 to 4 weeks after opening. We do not recommend freezing cheese as it degrades the quality of the product.
Spots on the exterior can be wiped off with a cloth lightly dampened with olive oil or can be cut off.
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Customer Reviews
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"Excellent!!"
Virginia - Alexandria, VA November 2022
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"Tasted just like I remembered from Grazalema!"
Louise - Houston, TX December 2021
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"Fabulous cheese, great flavor and depth. One slice is not enough!"
MLTaylor - Tampa, FL October 2014
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Paul - Taylorsville, CA July 2014
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DAVE - Waunakee, WI April 2014
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"Published 27 December in “Cosas de Come” Cadiz web site: "The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing awarded, for the third time, the title Best Cheese in Spain to the Payoyo cheese." I personnaly brought home a full wheel of Payoyo from our trip to El Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz last April and two wedges from La Tinda last week. It is worth every euro/dollar."
Bill - Williamsburg, VA January 2014