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Asiago PDO Product of the Mountain

Asiago PDO

Consortium
Consorzio Tutela Formaggio Asiago

Product info
Asiago Product of The Mountain

Asiago Product of The Mountain

It is the traditional cheese of the Asiago Plateau. Asiago Cheese, which boasts the name “Product of the Mountain”, is produced and aged only by cheese-makers located in mountain territory lying at an altitude of over 600 metres, according to strict production guidelines that highlight the repetition of an ancient tradition that protects the environment, grazing livestock and the consumer. The strong bond with the Alpine territory characterises the whole production chain and gives this cheese the unmistakable aromas and flavours that make it unique: sweet and pleasant in the Fresh variety, stronger with slightly piquant notes in the Aged variety. When tasted, all the different varieties of Aged Asiago are able to evoke the scent of the uncontaminated mountain meadows and pastures and the age-old tradition of cheese making.

Asiago PDO Product of the Mountain - Monthly Production »

Product Description

Asiago PDO “Product of the Mountain” originates from milk produced only in mountain dairy farms and then transformed in the PDO mountain area in the Veneto and Trentino regions, at an altitude of over 600 metres, where the cows are fed mainly on grass and hay. The whole production chain, from transformation of the milk into cheese until ripening, is controlled and traced to ensure a natural product of extremely high quality. The uncontaminated environment of Alpine pastures and the great cheese-making tradition make this cheese a precious jewel of natural goodness.

Marking

Asiago cheeses that display the additional marking “product of the mountain” are recognisable not only by the marking of origin of Asiago cheese (the name ASIAGO written vertically in sequence on the edge of the whole cheese), but also by the additional wording “product of the mountain”, which is stamped, only once, on the edge.

Moreover, at the end of the minimum aging period, the cheeses are also marked using special equipment belonging to the Consortium for the Protection, which is allocated to cheese makers that meet the criteria, with the following logo fire branded on the side:

Identification and marking Asiago PDO

Aging

The minimum aging period of Asiago marked with the wording “product of the mountain” is 90 days from the last day of the month of production for Aged Asiago and 30 days from production for Fresh Asiago. Asiago cheese that uses the wording “product of the mountain” must be aged by cheese-makers located in mountain territory stored in buildings in which temperature and humidity conditions can be determined by natural environmental conditions.

Results of studies

Asiago PDO - ally for health

Asiago cheese, and particularly Aged Asiago, can be considered a “natural nutraceutical” food; in other words, a food that, without additives or the use of food engineering techniques developed in the laboratory, but simply due to the raw material and production method used, has qualities that benefit human health. A group of researchers from the University of Padova has revealed these dietetic-functional properties, discovering that Aged Asiago cheese contains bioactive peptides – linked to the cheese-making method, to the microclimate in the area and to the duration of aging – capable of helping to lower blood pressure in hypertensive subjects.

Source: University of Padua

Research presented at a convention by ADI (Italian Association of dietetics and clinical nutrition) showed that: CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) – which increases in Aged Asiago in a proportion directly related to the production altitude – is able to reduce excess adipose tissue in moderately obese healthy subjects. Added to this are other health benefits, in particular the presence of calcium, phosphorus, Vitamin D and proteins that are easy to use compared to other sources of protein, but with a reduced contribution of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. It must be mentioned that 50 grams of Asiago cheese cover approximately 50% of the daily protein requirement.
The study showed other health benefits, in particular the presence of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and proteins, easy to use compared to other protein sources, but with a reduced intake of saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated. Researchers stated that 50 grams of Asiago cheese cover about 50% of daily required amounts of calcium.

Source: ADI (Italian Association of dietetics and clinical nutrition)

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Recipes

 

CLAL focus on: Belsagio Mezzano

Name:
Belsagio Mezzano
Company:
Sachsenmilch Leppersdorf GmbH
Base:
Leppersdorf (Germany)
Establishment year:
1991
Products:
Naturally-matured cheese, cheese blocks and cubes, cheese slices and portions

Belsagio is a cheese which is matured ca. 12 weeks on spruce wood boards and has an intensive and irresistible taste.

Belsagio is a new cheese which was arisen from the cheese tradition, passion and experience of our cheese masters. They have produced a cheese with an incomparable taste which is close to the Italian cheese flavour. Belsagio is a new proposal for your counter to offer a unique taste through a high quality cheese.

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