What's a PDO cheese?
If you’ve ever visited a cheese counter, you may have noticed that some cheeses have the letters PDO, AOP, or DOP after the name. These acronyms are designations that have been granted to certain European cheeses, designed to build consumer confidence. Essentially, any cheese that holds a designation is produced using very specific methods, techniques, and ingredients. PDO, which stands for Protected Designation of Origin, is the most stringent of these designations. For a cheese to qualify for this status, it must meet very specific criteria in terms of appellation (where it’s made), affinage (where and how it’s aged), and the source and treatment of the milk.
When purchasing a PDO cheese, you can expect a high level of consistency, since that cheese must be made according to a set-in-stone recipe if you will. Some examples of PDO cheeses we carry at the shop include:
Just to name a few!
Want to experience a PDO cheese? Stop by for a tasting!