Mangiano Italiano Cheese Factory

Today we went to Mangiano Italiano, a cheese factory in Monsummano Terme.  We had a guided tour through the cheese making process, mainly different kinds of fresh cheeses  including cow and buffalo mozzarella. The tour was led by the head cheese monger, a local Italian who spoke little to no english. It was quite amazing to see this little factory run by just 3/4 cheese makers. They alternate making cow cheese one day and buffalo the next. On the tour we saw how they stretched and pressed the cheese and then learned the amazing changes you could do to the cheese with just water temperature. The cheese monger, who was so proud of his art and the shapes he could make, the most amazing pig (video below). The factory on the whole is very proud of their craft, making everything relate to the cow, including the building. We ended our tour with a very intensive and abundant cheese tasting. We tasted cow mozzarella, followed by ricotta, buffalo mozzarella and mascarpone with fresh local jam. Our personal favorites were the mascarpone (very smooth and delicate) and the buffalo mozzarella.

                                                                                                       Caleb Seyala &

                                                                       Breckyn Schmidt