Description
The Anevato PDO is a soft granular cheese traditionally produced with sheep's or goat's milk, or with an ovine and caprine milk combination.
Production Area
The Anevato PDO is produced in the Grevena Prefecture and the municipality of Voiou, in the prefecture of Kozani, in the Western Macedonia region.
Production Method
The milk is heated to 18-22°C, and when the relative acidity reaches 35°C, it is placed in a refrigerator at 2-4°C for 24 hours. Afterwards, it is heated to 12-14°C and a small amount of rennet is added to cause curdling within 12 hours. The curd is then separated, put to drain for 12 hours, salted on the surface and left to mature for approximately two months.
Appearance and Flavour
The Anevato PDO is a white soft cheese, with no rind, no shading, nor holes. Its taste is slightly salty, fairly mild, characterised by a particular aroma; furthermore, it is characterised by a pleasant scent.
History
The history of the Anevato PDO is linked to the tradition of breeding and producing cheese with the milk from goats and sheep that graze on the mountains in the production area, at an altitude of approximately 800 m. According to this tradition, the shepherds milked the animals in the morning, collected the milk in cauldrons and added small quantities of rennet; in the evening, after having pastured the animals, the shepherds came back and found the cheese "surfaced" and separated from the whey. The name of the cheese itself derives from this practice, since Anevato literally means, "risen". Once a week the shepherds went back to their villages to restock whatever they needed and to promote their Anevato at the market.
Gastronomy
The Anevato PDO should be kept in the refrigerator and once opened it preferably should be eaten within three days. The Anevato PDO is a table cheese that can be eaten on its own or with bread. This cheese is used as ingredient for salads or also as filling for cakes; it is furthermore combined with typical dishes from the region and served with white wines.
Marketing
The product is sold as Anevato PDO. It is marketed in plastic packages placed inside cardboard boxes.
Distinctive Features
The Anevato PDO is characterised by its soft paste, but above all for its taste and its pleasant fragrance, which make it a product with unique characteristics.
