Serra da Estrela cheese. Only one of the best cheeses I have tasted in my life! Ancient handmade cheese perfect for all types of meals, especially as a dessert with maize and wheat bread, marmalade and some wine (always good). Once the cheese is cut the soft inside quickly spreads out of its skin, and you can feel the intense aroma, unique flavour…
The shepherds of the mountain Serra da Estrela have been passing down the recipe from generation to generation until our days, at least from 16th-century! The sheep graze freely here, eating only the best grass in areas carefully chosen by the experienced shepherds to make sure their milk is the best.
Given that I am living in the center of Portugal and very close to Serra da Estrela I went to Tábua and Oliveira do Hospital cheese festivals.
Cheese markets are growing and attracting every year more and more people from several parts of Portugal, having wide media coverage in the past years. So remember that if you are around, or plan on coming for a weekend break on late February or March, every weekend there is a Cheese Market going on nearby you shouldn't miss: Tábua, Oliveira do Hospital, Seia, Gouveia and Celorico da Beira. And many traditional food festivals in Carregal do Sal, Mangualde or Nelas.
The 27th edition of the Cheese Market of Tábua happened on the 27th and 28th February and there we had the chance to taste traditional products of the region such as Serra da Estrela cheese, bread, honey, pork meat and Dão wine.
And only a week later, on the 5th and 6th March we attended the 28th Serra da Estrela Cheese Festival in Oliveira do Hospital, another delicious event that promotes cheese amongst other typical products of Estrela Mountains region. Apart from selling cheese which is the star product, visitors can buy ham, bread, jam, ceramics, wool shoes and jackets, wooden made tools, souvenirs, and games!
If you prefer beer instead of wine. Rapada beer is produced right here by a local company and we absolutely recommend their Belgium Pale Ale and Dry Stout Beer, perfect to drink with these regional food specialties, I loved it.
Undoubtedly, this is something you should experience…dancing to the sound of Portuguese Folk Music, having cheese and bread with a glass of Dao wine, meeting new friends and by the end of the day bring beautiful new products back home with you, and most importantly unique memories…
