Division 5.2 Specificity of the product

As a result of the know-how of its producers, ‘Queijo Serra da Estrela’ is obtained exclusively from raw milk, using the cardoon flower as a natural rennet.

‘Queijo Serra da Estrela’ has distinctive characteristics due to the production conditions described above. It is commercialised as a flat regular cylinder with slightly bulging sides on its upper surface and no defined edge, with a smooth, semi-soft rind and a closed, slightly buttery texture which loses its shape on cutting. It is well-bound, creamy and smooth, sometimes containing a few white or sallow eyes. It has a smooth, clean and slightly acidic bouquet. These characteristics grow naturally stronger during the maturing process, leading to the production of ‘Queijo Serra da Estrela’ Velho, which can be described as follows: smooth to slightly rough rind, hard to extra hard consistency, closed texture or with a few eyes, body dry and slightly crumbly, smooth, dark yellow to orange getting darker from the outside towards the centre; pleasant, lingering, clean, strong to slightly strong and slightly spicy/salty bouquet.