Brought to you by Parmigiano Reggiano

Produced primarily in the Parma, Emilia Reggio and Modena regions of Italy, Parmigiano Reggiano is the rich, fruity-flavoured and slightly grainy-textured authentic parmesan cheese that is an essential ingredient in many Italian dishes and a must-have in your fridge.

The production of Parmigiano Reggiano dates back to the 12th century, and, staying true to its unique and natural process, is still hand-made using the traditional methods by artisans. The art begins with the 4 000 farms (600 litres of milk go into each cheese wheel) in the area of production, where cattle forage on locally grown greens and where fermented feed and silage are banned, ensuring that the raw milk used in the production is of a high quality.

Parmigiano Reggiano. Photo supplied.

The area of origin is a respected and protected environment, which gives Parmigiano Reggiano its unique qualities and characteristics. Regular controls are also carried out on the milk to ensure its quality and the presence of special characteristics, resulting in a well-matured, natural and nutritious product that is free of additives or preservatives. A PDO stamp is fire-branded onto the rind of the cheese to confirm its authenticity as a product of the area of origin.

Parmigiano Reggiano has a minimum maturation time of 12 months but is at its best at 24 months of age.

Parmigiano Reggiano 24-months matured is available at Woolworths. Click here for recipes using Parmigiano Reggiano.