Manchego

Manchego is a Spanish cheese made from the milk of Manchega sheep raised in the La Mancha region of central Spain, aged anywhere from a few weeks to two years depending on the style. The cheese has a firm, compact texture with small, evenly distributed holes, and its rind traditionally carries a zigzag pattern left by the esparto grass molds historically used in its production. Manchego's flavor ranges from mild and buttery when young to sharp and nutty when aged, and it holds a protected designation of origin in the European Union restricting genuine Manchego to La Mancha sheep's milk production.