Division 5.3 Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product (for PDO) or a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product (for PGI)

The climate and soil conditions of the Serra da Estrela region have allowed agricultural and forestry activities to develop, one of the main ones being the rearing of sheep from the local ‘Bordaleira Serra da Estrela’ and ‘Churra Mondegueria’ breeds. The milk they produce is used to make the renowned cheeses and creamy cheeses (requeijäo) of Serra da Estrela, which have distinctive characteristics in terms of colour, fragrance, bouquet and texture.

The region and the cheeses produced there were already mentioned in texts by Roman authors. The cheeses were also described as the food of choice on board ship during the Age of Discovery and were mentioned in sixteenth-century plays.