Raw milk
Sheep of the Merina breed
Cordoba
The north west of the province of Cordoba is home to a vast area of holm oak pastures which are ideal for cattle farming. Its main products are the Merina breed of sheep and vegetable rennet.
A mature, lightly-pressed cheese that ranges from soft to semi-soft with a medium to high fat content. Vegetable rennet made from the flower of the wild thistle is used to produce enzymatic coagulation.
Produced in cylindrical form, the top and bottom of the cheese are smooth and flat. The slightly convex sides bear the plaited mark of the esparto grass mould.

The tortas (a softer variety) weigh around 1 Kg and the cheeses between 2 and 3 Kg. The product is normally preserved in oil. Its thin, semi-hard rind is bright yellow in colour as a result of its being rubbed with olive oil. The cheese is ivory white in colour and contains holes caused by fermentation. The texture of the tortas varies from soft to very soft, while the cheeses are semi-hard. It is characterised by the sour smell typically associated with fermentation, tinged with a hint of animal wool. The use of vegetable rennet produces a bitter aftertaste.