Description
The Esrom PGI is a mature semi-hard to hard paste cheese produced exclusively from raw Danish cows' milk.
Production Area
Esrom PGI cheese is made all over Denmark.
Production Method
Rennet and bacteria cultures are added to lightly pasteurised cows' milk. Once coagulated, the curd is cut with a knife and churned and then the whey is drained off and the curd is heated. The resulting curd granules are placed in moulds and lightly pressed and once they have cooled the cheese is salted. At this stage the rind of the cheese is treated with a specific micro-flora. Lastly the cheese is matured in a well ventilated environment for a minimum of two weeks. When they are ready they are washed, dried and wrapped.
Appearance and Flavour
Esrom PGI is a semi-hard or hard paste cheese with a uniform colour which varies from white to yellow and an evenly distributed irregular pattern holing about the size of grains of rice. It has a homogenous and soft consistency and is easy to cut. It comes in a rectangular shape between 3,5 to 7 cm deep and weighing from 0,2 kg to 2 kg. It has a thin and elastic rind which varies from yellow to orange in colour. The surface has a thin film of a reddish or yellowish brown colour given it by the addition of a particular micro-flora. It is an aromatic cheese with a delicate, acidic flavour with the prevalent aroma and taste of a well matured cheese.
History
Esrom PGI gets its name from the Esrom abbey where it was originally made in the 11th and 12th centuries. It was rediscovered in the 1930s by a state experimental dairy. Production of this cheese on a national scale is owed to the Midtsjællands Herregårdsmejeri cheese maker.
Gastronomy
Esrom PGI cheese must be kept in a cold place if it is already cut, it should be kept in the refrigerator wrapped in aluminium foil. Esrom PGI cheese is excellent with meals as well as in sandwiches. Its degree of maturity makes it ideal to be eaten with fruit.
Marketing
This cheese is sold as Esrom PGI in the following varieties, depending on the fat content (20%, 30%, 45% or 60%); Esrom PGI +30; Esrom PGI +45 and Esrom PGI +60. It is sold whole or in prepacked slices of varying weights.
Distinctive Features
Esrom PGI cheese is a well established Danish speciality within and beyond the European Union. It owes its fame to legislative initiatives and also to the improvements in quality promoted and achieved over 40 years by the association of producers, who have been able to preserve the particular and traditional characteristics of this cheese and spread its fame.
