Merkki: Consorzio tutela Montasio

: Montasio D.O.P.

Montasio is a semi-hard, cooked-curd cheese made exclusively with cow's milk harvested in the area of production.

Vecchio or Stagionato (aged), which has been aged over 10 months.

Montasio's flavour profile changes according to the degree of aging. When eaten fresh, it has a mild, creamy flavour which recalls that of the milk with which it was produced; Montasio Mezzano has a deeper, fuller flavour, while Montasio Stagionato is intensely flavoured with a hint of sharpness, perfect for consumers who prefer big, bold tastes.

Montasio's paste is characteristically uniformly peppered with small holes ("eyes"), all of the same shape and shiny on the inside ("partridge eyes"). Fresh Montasio has a smooth, elastic, and compact light brown rind, with a firm white or straw-yellow paste. As the cheese ages, the rind becomes drier and the paste granular and crumbly.

Montasio can be identified by marking of origin - the caption "Montasio" written diagonally on the side. Montasio that has been aged for more that 100 days and is free from all imperfections is fire branded by the Consortium's commission with an additional mark of quality. The side also indicates the date of production and the producer's identification code.