A Sweet and Grainy Gift From the Monks ; Grana Padano Cheese From Italy's Po Valley

Summary

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Cistercian monks in northern Italy's Po River Valley first produced Grana Padano cheese nearly 1,000 years ago. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the monks reclaimed the desolate valley and began to farm and raise cattle. The abundance of cattle produced large amounts of unused milk. In order not to waste the excess milk, the monks created Grana Padano.

The name "grana" derives from the cheese's grainy texture, while "padano" refers to the Po River Valley. Grana Padano is a hard, pale, and granular cheese with an intense yet sweet and delicate taste. Today, the Grana Padano production zone runs through the Po Valley from Piedmont to Veneto and in some areas of Emilia Romagna.

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Extract

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A Sweet and Grainy Gift From the Monks ; Grana Padano Cheese From Italy's Po Valley

Look for unique markings on a Grana Padano wheel that guarantee it is authentic. A four-leaf-clover stamp confirms the origin with the province's code and producer's registration number. The next identifiers are...

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