Cheese story
What is Canastra?
A celebrated farmhouse cheese from Serra da Canastra.
Origin
Minas Gerais, Brazil
Milk
cow
Board role
Hard / mature
Cheese profile
Country
Brazil
Region
Minas Gerais
Milk type
cow
Texture
semi-hard
Rind
natural
Ageing
3 weeks to several months
Vegetarian
Check the rennet / producer
Milk treatment
raw traditionally
Flavour profile: earthy, tangy, buttery, rustic
Origin, protection and character
Canastra comes from Brazil, especially Minas Gerais. Its character comes from the balance of milk, texture, rind, ageing and local serving traditions.
Protected status
Brazilian GI / IP
Typical ageing
3 weeks to several months
How to serve Canastra
cheese boards, pão de queijo, snacks
Good food matches
coffee
cachaça
guava paste
Serving tip
Take it out of the fridge before serving so the texture softens and the flavour opens up. Softer cheeses usually need less time than hard aged cheeses.
Buying tip
Look for clean aroma, good texture and a style that matches the board: fresh and bright, soft and creamy, hard and nutty, blue and salty, or bold and washed-rind.
