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In Mugello there is one very big producer of Toscano DOP (certified) pecorino cheese, but there are also numerous smaller producers that abide by all the rules of traditional pecorino making.
Toscano DOP pecorino cheese
 The Pecorino cheese
The characteristics
Tuscan Pecorino DOP cheese has a “soft” or “semi-soft” texture and is made with 100% whole sheep’s milk. The finished cheese is disc-shaped. The diameter of the disc varies from 15 to 22 cm; the sides are slightly convex and 7 to 11 cm high; and the cheese weighs from 1 to 3.5 kilos. The crust is variable shades of yellow, while the cheese itself is yellowy white with a mild flavour and a taste of spice. Pecorino Toscano DOP comes with the DOP seal branded on the crust and is therefore easily recognizable. It is not packaged because the inedible crust itself offers the product protection, and the seal gives the product its name.
The history
The product’s traditional quality is linked to the characteristics of the milk it is made from and, therefore, to the territory.
All through Tuscany the rules of cheese making are bound to certain age-old traditions. Regulations have been set to guarantee that this cheese making process is preserved for future generations. Tuscan Pecorino DOP can be eaten alone or grated, depending on how hard it is.
Where and how it is produced
Select milk enzymes from the same territory are added to the whole sheep’s milk, and, later on, also calf’s rennet. To make “semi-hard” cheese, the paste is mixed until the curds are the size of corn kernels, or to make “soft” cheese, the size of hazel nuts.
The next step is pressing and salting, which is followed by a variable period of maturation, which depends on the type of cheese and runs from a minimum of 20 days, for “soft” cheeses, to 4 months for “semi-hard” ones. This cheese is matured in temperature and humidity controlled rooms. Once the cheese has matured, the seal is applied. For soft cheeses the seal is applied with ink, and for semi-hard cheeses it is branded.
The Coop. Il Forteto, which can be found in Vicchio, in Mugello, is one of the most important producers of Pecorino Toscano.
The Coop. is associated with the CONSORZIO PER LA TUTELA DEL PECORINO TOSCANO (Caseificio n. 20), which exercises strict and constant control over the production of this typical DOP cheese. The activities of the cheese factory and the Consorzio are certified and come under the ruling of an external organization in accordance with UNI CEI EN 45011 regulations.
Pecorino Cheese
Some smaller farms in Mugello, which are dedicated to sheep rearing, also produce excellent pecorino cheese. The production process is quite similar to the one used for making Pecorino Toscano DOP, and the quality is often very high due, at times, to the organic line of production.
| AZIENDA AGRICOLA SANNA MARCO | Town: Vicchio Phone: +39 329 6052321 | Production and sale of pecorino and ricotta cheeses. | | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA BIOLOGICA BACCIOTTI | Town: Scarperia Phone: + 39 055 8406905 Fax: + 39 055 8406905 | Production and sale of organic products: pecorino, ricotta and raveggiolo cheeses. School farm. | | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA GARIPPA ANTONIO E DANIELE | Town: Scarperia Phone: + 39 055 8406761- 335 5333898 | Production and sale of ricotta, raviggiolo and pecorino, fresh and seasoned sheep's cheese. Tasting of cheeses on request.
| | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA IL SASSO di Farina Salvatore | Town: Borgo San Lorenzo Phone: + 39 055 8495619 - 334 1147580 | Production and sale of pecorino, ricotta and raviggiolo cheese. | | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA LOZZOLE | Town: Palazzuolo sul Senio Phone: + 39 339 8240632 | Production and sale of goat’s and sheep’s cheese and ricotta, cinta pork. | | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA MAREMONTI NICOLA E PALAZZO TERESA | Town: Firenzuola Phone: + 39 333 7156566 | Production and sale of ricotta, raviggiolo and pecorino and goat cheeses. | | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA MONGILI MASSIMILIANO | Town: Vicchio Phone: + 39 055 8497393 Fax: +39 055 844354 | Production and sale of ricotta, pecorino and raveggiolo. | | | | AZIENDA AGRICOLA SIRIGU PIERO | Town: Barberino di Mugello Phone: + 39 055 8416404 – 339 2938902 Fax: + 39 055 8416404 | Production and direct sale of ricotta and pecorino cheeses. | | | | AZIENDA AGRITURISTICA LUTIANO | Town: Scarperia Phone: + 39 055 8492000 - 338 5252794 – 333 2089143 Fax: + 39 055 8492000 | Production and sale of pecorino and ricotta cheeses. | | | | Coop.va di consumo POLCANTO | Town: Borgo San Lorenzo Phone: +39 055 8409914 Fax: +39 055 8409914 | Sale of local rosato, red and white local wine, bottled and wine on tap, bread, marrone flour, Mugello truffles, fresh pasta, local tortelli, cheeses and honey. | | | | COOPERATIVA AGRICOLA IL FORTETO | Town: Vicchio Phone: + 39 055 8448183 - 055 8448745 (punto vendita) Fax: + 39 055 8387589 |
Production and sale of Tuscan DOP pecorino cheese, mozzarella, raveggiolo, burrata (mozzarella filled with creamy butter), ricotta, apples, Chianina meat, wood oven baked bread, biscuits and other baked goods. Sale of locally produced jam, honey, "Castana" beer (produced by chestnut flour) and brown beer (produced by barley malt and organic spelt), wine and extra-virgin olive oil.
Sweet specialties: bruttiboni, cantucci, biscuits, mantovana, plumcake,cakes, ice-cream cake and ice cream; in Summer: zuccotto, Arezzo gatò, ciambellone, panettone e colomba.
Production and sale of Tuscan DOP pecorino cheese, mozzarella, raveggiolo, burrata (mozzarella filled with creamy butter), ricotta, apples, Chianina meat, wood oven baked bread, biscuits and other baked goods. Sale of locally produced jam, honey, beer "Castana"(produced by chestnut flour) and brown beer (produced by barley malt and organic spelt), wine and extra-virgin olive oil. | | | | COOPERATIVA AGRICOLA IL FORTETO | Town: Vicchio Phone: + 39 055 8448183 - 055 8448745 (punto vendita) Fax: + 39 055 8387589 | Production and sale of Tuscan DOP pecorino cheese, mozzarella, raveggiolo, burrata (mozzarella filled with creamy butter), ricotta, apples, Chianina meat, wood oven baked bread, biscuits and other baked goods. Sale of locally produced jam, honey, "Castana" beer (produced by chestnut flour) and brown beer (produced by barley malt and organic spelt), wine and extra-virgin olive oil.
Sweet specialties: bruttiboni, cantucci, biscuits, mantovana, plumcake,cakes, ice-cream cake and ice cream; in Summer: zuccotto, Arezzo gatò, ciambellone, panettone e colomba. | | | | LA FAGGIOLA di AGRICOOP s.a.c. | Town: Palazzuolo sul Senio Phone: + 39 055 8046053 Fax: + 39 055 8046017 | Production and sale of cheeses (cow's and sheep's cheese, ricotta, butter, mozzarella, raveggiolo), milk and Faggiola's milk. Production of organic cheeses.
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In Mugello there is one very big producer of Toscano DOP (certified) pecorino cheese, but there are also numerous smaller producers that abide by all the rules of traditional pecorino making.
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