What is Manchego Cheese?

Manchego cheese is a traditional Spanish cheese made from the milk of Manchega sheep, native to the La Mancha region in central Spain.

Milk Type: Sheep (Manchega breed)
Texture: Firm and compact with small holes
Flavor: Nutty, buttery, mildly tangy — intensifies with age

Aging Categories

Fresco: Less than 30 days (rarely exported)
Semicurado: 3–4 months — mild and creamy
Curado: 6–9 months — nutty and firm
Viejo: 12+ months — sharp, crumbly

Appearance

Manchego has a cylindrical shape with a distinctive basket-weave rind pattern and a pale ivory interior. The rind may be natural or waxed for export.

How to Enjoy It

Pair with quince paste (membrillo), almonds, or olives
Serve with Rioja or Tempranillo wine
Use in tapas, grilled sandwiches, or on a cheese board

Manchego is protected by D.O.P. status (Denominación de Origen Protegida), meaning it must be made in La Mancha using milk from Manchega sheep.

598 views of this article.
Last Modified on April 29th, 2025
Created on April 29th, 2025
2,543,149 Total Views

This article is part of the following category. Click on the link to see a list of similar articles:

Food

Go to homepage

Below is a list of the most highly rated places to visit in Spain

Click on the links to see the most popular activities that you can do in these places:

Note that the booking system uses a Spanish system and there is no involvement of any American company and no US tariffs.