Asadero Cheese

Introduction

We often take for granted how our food comes to our table—from farm to delivery. But one food in particular, the beloved Asadero cheese, serves as an ambassador of Mexico’s artisan food traditions: the long and powerful story of Asadero cheese. From humble roots, this cheese has a long and proud heritage, and learning about how it’s made and shipped can give insight into its flavor, history, and cultural significance.

Exploring The History of Asadero Cheese

Asadero cheese is a semi-soft Mexican cheese widely enjoyed around the world that has been tracing its origins back to the 16th century. This cheese is made from the milk of various types of seasonal animals, including goats, cows, sheep, and sometimes even buffaloes. The milk is then carefully collected and heated, enabling curd formation. It’s during this time that natural bacteria and enzymes in the milk begin to transform the milk into cheese.

Unique to Asadero cheese is that it goes through an extensive aging process, which can take upward of two years! During this time, the cheese is placed in different ventilation chambers to facilitate the ripening process. During this procedure, artisans carefully inspect the cheese to monitor its consistency, flavor, and aroma.

It’s thanks to this lengthy process of careful aging and monitoring that gives Asadero cheese its distinct bold flavor that is perfect for melting. This cheese is excellent in quesadillas, grilled sandwiches, soups, and pasta dishes.

The Journey of Asadero Cheese

The journey of Asadero cheese to the dinner plate begins in the large cheese dairies in Mexico where it is produced and aged. Asadero cheese is traditionally made by cheese makers using traditional methods developed through generations. It is a skill that is passed down from generation to generation. These techniques ensure a consistent flavor and make it easy to recognize a cheese that has been crafted in this manner.

When the cheese is ready for harvest, it’s then packaged and placed into special refrigerators to maintain its freshness and quality. Then, the cheese is carefully shipped by truck or train to a distribution center in the US where it can be packaged for shipping or sold in bulk to distributors.

From here, the cheese is aging further and maturing, giving it its unique flavor and texture. The cheese is also lightly salted after this period of maturation and aging. After packaging and labeling, Asadero cheese is then distributed to grocery stores around the world.

The Final Product

When you finally set the cheese on your dinner plate, Asadero cheese is sure to make a delicious addition to any culinary creation. Its unique flavor and texture make it perfect as a melting cheese on tacos and quesadillas, as well as a flavorful addition to lasagna, grilled cheese sandwiches, and paninis.

Its versatility has endeared Asadero cheese to food enthusiasts everywhere and has made it one of the most popular Mexican cheeses out there. It’s recently exploded in popularity thanks to its inclusion in omnichannel retailing and its inclusion in restaurant menus.

Conclusion

Asadero cheese is a Mexican cheese of great distinction. Its centuries-long process of production, maturation, and packaging ensure that when it reaches your dinner plate it is nothing short of perfection. With its smooth, creamy texture and powerful flavor, Asadero is a cheese that’s continuously growing in popularity and recognition. Whenever you see it, you can bet that you’re in for a delicious treat!