São Jorge Cheese © Denzil Green / 2010
São Jorge Cheese is made from raw cow’s milk on the island of São Jorge in the Azores.
It is firm but supple, with small holes inside the cheese. The cheese is a pale gold colour, with a natural rind that is a deeper gold colour.
The cheese has a peppery, grassy aroma and taste. As it ages, it develops a mild, mouth-puckering sourness after-tone and becomes more crumbly. It also has a musty flavour or aroma, which can be described variously as earthy or barnyardy. Somehow, though, the combination of both tastes very fresh.
This is a farmhouse cheese made at many small farms. The wheels will be between 7 and 12 kilos in weight (15 and 26 pounds), and be aged 3 to 5 months.
The association “Confraria do Queijo de São Jorge” promotes the cheese.
Cooking Tips
São Jorge Cheese can be used in cooking, though Portuguese cuisine does not traditionally cook with cheese.
History Notes
The cheese received a European PDO in 1996.