The name
The right name of this special type of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO is Parmigiano Reggiano "Mountain Product", and any other definitions are forbidden by existing regulations. Let's see what Parmigiano Reggiano "Mountain Product" means, how it looks like and what its features are.
How to recognise the real "made in the mountain" cheese
A green and golden mark, issued by the Consortium of Parmigiano Reggiano, is stamped on the outer layer of the cheese, finally proving that all processing steps were carried out in compliance with existing rules, resulting into a real mountain product.
When Parmigiano Reggiano PDO becomes a mountain product
As mentioned before, Parmigiano Reggiano "Mountain Product" must comply with strict rules in terms of farming, cow feeding, dairy locations and the place of cheese maturation, which must take place within mountain area. All requirements are listed in the "Mountain Product" Quality Project and can be summarised in five key points:
1. Farming;
2. Cow feeding;
3. Dairy;
4. Milk processing;
5. Maturation.
1. FARMING
Farms producing milk to be processed into Parmigiano Reggiano "Mountain Product’ must be located within local mountain area.
2. COW FEEDING
60% of dry cattle feed must be grown, on a yearly basis, in the local mountain area.
3. DAIRY
Cheese factories producing Parmigiano Reggiano "Mountain Product’ must be placed within local mountain area.
4. MILK PROCESSING
Each stage of milk processing aimed at producing Parmigiano Reggiano "Mountain Product’ (cow milking, transportation to processing plants, overnight partial skimming, processing and all other steps required by regulations) take place separately and do not include any other types of milk which do not meet requirements to become Parmigiano Reggiano "Mountain Product".
5. MATURATION
The basic curing (12 months) of cheese named Parmigiano Reggiano "Mountain Product’ takes place in warehouses located in local mountain areas. All these additional rules are imperative in order to make the real "mountain product", which taste shall be unique.
Does Parmigiano Reggiano "Mountain Product" taste better than standard Parmigiano Reggiano cheese?
The regulations enforced to produce this particular type of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO belong to a specific "Quality Project"; this means that "Mountain Product" is considered as an "added value" in terms of quality and taste of Parmigiano Reggiano.
Maturation
Likewise all other types of Parmigiano Reggiano, various ages of Parmigiano Reggiano "Mountain Product” are also available online and in our local stores: