Minas cheese ( or , , literally "cheese from Minas") is a type of

cheese Cheese is a type of dairy product produced in a range of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk (usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats or sheep). During prod ...

that has been traditionally produced in the

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

ian

state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the fourth largest state by area and the second largest in number of inhabitants with a population of 20,539,989 according to the 2022 Brazilian census, 2022 census. Located in ...

. It comes in three varieties, named (fresh), (half-aged) and (aged). A fourth variety, branded as ("standard" cheese), has been developed more recently and can be found in nearly all supermarkets and grocery stores in Brazil. It is similar to , but not as immensely juicy, soft and mild, and also generally less salty. Minas cheese is made from

cow's milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of lactating mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digest solid food. Milk contains many nutr ...

according to traditional recipes. It used to be matured naturally in the open air or, much less often, over a cooker to dry with the heat. Primarily used by people who want to have a healthier diet, it is recommended in diets and even for those with gastritis. cheese (as the name implies) is served quite fresh, about 4–10 days after preparation, still white and tender. Good must be juicy, soft, and slightly granulated (instead of rubbery), with a mild taste. The saltiness of its taste might vary widely across producers. It is not suitable for cooking, except with beef or pork (the juice helps enhance its taste), or as an ingredient in a wider recipe, grilled with sauces such as

soy sauce Soy sauce (sometimes called soya sauce in British English) is a liquid condiment of China, Chinese origin, traditionally made from a fermentation (food), fermented paste of soybeans, roasted cereal, grain, brine, and ''Aspergillus oryzae'' or ''A ...

, until it becomes rubbery. It can be used to make sandwiches, pastries, and crêpes, but it gets slightly rubbery instead of stringy with heat. It pairs well with

turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

breast and other low-fat

cold cut Lunch meats—also known as cold cuts, luncheon meats, cooked meats, sliced meats, cold meats, sandwich meats, delicatessens, and deli meats—are precooked or cured meats that are sliced and served cold or hot. They are typically served in ...

s, cooked onions, tomatoes, as well as salad rockets, cooked

spinach Spinach (''Spinacia oleracea'') is a leafy green flowering plant native to Central Asia, Central and Western Asia. It is of the order Caryophyllales, family Amaranthaceae, subfamily Chenopodioideae. Its leaves are a common vegetable consumed eit ...

and other strong-tasting vegetables. cheese is ready for consumption when the juice has evaporated and the cheese has solidified, acquiring a yellowish tint. Good cheese must have a white core, punctured with tiny bubbles of air, slightly more granulated than and with a stronger taste, tending to be bitter. It is excellent for cooking, being used for a huge variety of dishes of all types, including and the famous (cheese bun). cheese is often served with

goiabada Goiabada (; from ''Portuguese'' goiaba, guava) is a conserve made of red guavas and sugar, commonly found throughout the Portuguese-speaking countries of the world. It dates back to the colonial times of Brazil, where guavas were used as a su ...

, a sweet product made from

guava Guava ( ), also known as the 'guava-pear', is a common tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. The common guava '' Psidium guajava'' (lemon guava, apple guava) is a small tree in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), nativ ...

s similar to

quince cheese Quince cheese (also known as quince paste) is a sweet and tart, thick jelly made of the pulp of the quince fruit. It is a common confection in several countries. In the Iberian Peninsula, this traditionally Mediterranean food is called ''ate' ...

. When these two flavors are combined, it is known as

Romeu e Julieta (; ) is a traditional Brazilian dessert made of cheese and goiabada. While the most simplistic form of this dessert consists of goiabada over a slice of cheese, desserts and foods can be prepared into versions of themselves by incorporating g ...

, and this combination can be eaten as it is or used in a wide variety of dishes like cake, pie or ice cream. cheese also pairs well with other forms of fruit preserves or Doce de Leite. In December 2024, Minas cheese was recognized by

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

as an

Intangible cultural heritage An intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage. Buildings, historic places, monuments, and artifacts are cultural property. In ...

References

Brazilian cheeses Cow's-milk cheeses Culture in Minas Gerais Cuisine of Minas Gerais {{Brazil-cuisine-stub

See also

References