List of cheeses
Europe -- Portugal
Table:
Name

Image

Region

Description

Castelo Branco cheese
(PDO)

Beira Baixa

a cheese named after the city of the same name in Portugal, the main city of the district where it is produced. The cheese is made from milk produced by either a goat or a ewe, and has a soft texture.

Queijo de Nisa
(PDO)

Alto Alentejo

a semi-hard sheep's milk cheese from the municipality of Nisa. It is created from raw milk, which is coagulated, then curdled using an infusion of thistle.

Queijo do Pico
(PDO)

Azores

Originating from the island of Pico, this cured cheese is produced in cylindrical formats from cow milk It is considered a fatty cheese and the ripening of the cheese forms a yellow exterior irregular crust and yellowish-white, soft and pasty interior. Pico cheese has a salty taste and a, characteristically, intense aroma.

Queijo de Azeitão (PDO)

Azeitão, Setúbal

Sheep's milk cheese originating from the town of Azeitão.

São Jorge
(PDO)

Azores

Produced in the São Jorge Island, this is a hard/semi-hard cheese made from unpasteurised cow's milk, and the pâte has small eyes.

Serra da Estrela
(PDO)

Serra da Estrela

Produced in a mountainous region this cheeses is made from sheep's milk, mostly during the months of November to March. The texture of the paste varies depending on its age, from a very soft semi-liquid when young, to a soft but sliceable solid when older. It is a cured cheese created by artisanal producers with a white or slightly yellow color and a uniform creamy consistency with at most a few small holes in it.

Requeijão

A milk-derived product produced in Portugal and Brazil, it is sometimes called requesón (the Spanish word for ricotta) in English-speaking countries. It is a loose, ricotta-like cheese used to make cheese spreads.

Saloio
(Brand)

Santarém cheese

Drawing on the table plus the relevant paragraphs provided.

Answer the following question: What is the Description of the cheese that was named one of the 50 best gastronomic products in the world by the Great Taste Awards ? Return your answer as JSON: {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Do not introduce information beyond the provided sources.

Castelo Branco ( Portuguese : Queijo de Castelo Branco ) is a cheese named after the city of the same name in Portugal , the main city of the district where it is produced . Since 1996 Castelo Branco cheese has had a Protected designation of origin ( PDO ) , being one of the three Beira Baixa cheeses ( PDO ) ( Portuguese : Queijos da Beira Baixa DOP ) . The cheese is made from milk produced by either a goat or a ewe , and has a soft texture . Typically , the cheese takes 40 days to mature when made with goat 's milk , and 50 days when made with ewe 's milk . The fat content is around 45% and the cheese is usually a close-to-white colour .
Beira Baixa ( Portuguese pronunciation : [ ˈbɐjɾɐ ˈbajʃɐ ] ) was a Portuguese province . It was abolished with the Constitution of 1976 .
The city of Castelo Branco ( Portuguese pronunciation : [ kɐʃˈtɛlu ˈβɾɐ̃ku ] ( listen ) ) is a municipality and former bishopric in Castelo Branco District , in Centro Region , Portugal . The name means white castle . The city of Castelo Branco is made up of 19 Freguesias ( civil parish ) with a population of 30,649 in 2001 . The municipality has a total of 19 parishes . The population in 2011 was 56,109 , in an area of 1,438.19 square kilometres ( 555.29 square miles ) , making it one of the largest municipalities in Portugal . It is bounded in the north by the municipality of Fundão , in the east by Idanha-a-Nova , in the south by Spain , in the southwest by Vila Velha de Ródão , and in the west by Proença-a-Nova and Oleiros .
Portugal ( Portuguese : [ puɾtuˈɣal ] ) , officially the Portuguese Republic ( Portuguese : República Portuguesa [ ʁɛˈpuβlikɐ puɾtuˈɣezɐ ] ) , [ note 5 ] is a country located mostly on the Iberian Peninsula , in southwestern Europe . It is the westernmost sovereign state of mainland Europe , being bordered to the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean and to the north and east by Spain . Its territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira , both autonomous regions with their own regional governments . Portugal is the oldest nation state on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the oldest in Europe and the world , its territory having been continuously settled , invaded and fought over since prehistoric times . The pre-Celtic people , Iberians , Celts , Carthaginians and Romans were followed by the invasions of the Visigoths and Suebi Germanic peoples . After the Muslim conquests of the Iberian Peninsula , most of the territory was part of Al-Andalus until their expulsion . Portugal as a country was established during the early Christian Reconquista . Founded in 868 , the County of Portugal gained prominence after the Battle of São Mamede in 1128 . The Kingdom of Portugal was later proclaimed following the Battle of Ourique in 1139 , and independence from León was recognised by the Treaty of Zamora in 1143 . On 12 December 2017 , the Portuguese Navy commemorated the 700th anniversary of its official creation by King Denis of Portugal . Tracing its origins back to the 12th century , it is the oldest continuously serving navy in the world . In the 15th and 16th centuries , Portugal established the first global empire , becoming one of the world 's major economic , political and military powers .
Castelo Branco District ( Portuguese : Distrito de Castelo Branco [ kɐʃˈtɛlu ˈβɾɐ̃ku ] ( listen ) ) is located in Central Portugal . Its capital is Castelo Branco , which is now also the most populous city , taking over Covilhã , what was once the largest city . It has an area of 6675 km² ( 4th largest in Portugal ) , and a population of 225,916 inhabitants .
Milk is a nutrient-rich , white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals . It is the primary source of nutrition for infant mammals ( including humans who are breastfed ) before they are able to digest other types of food . Early-lactation milk contains colostrum , which carries the mother 's antibodies to its young and can reduce the risk of many diseases . It contains many other nutrients including protein and lactose . Interspecies consumption of milk is not uncommon , particularly among humans , many of whom consume the milk of other mammals . As an agricultural product , milk , also called dairy milk , is extracted from farm animals during or soon after pregnancy . Dairy farms produced about 730 million tonnes of milk in 2011 , from 260 million dairy cows . India is the world 's largest producer of milk , and is the leading exporter of skimmed milk powder , yet it exports few other milk products . The ever-increasing rise in domestic demand for dairy products and a large demand-supply gap could lead to India being a net importer of dairy products in the future . New Zealand , Germany and the Netherlands are the largest exporters of milk products . China and Russia were the world 's largest importers of milk and milk products until 2016 when both countries became self-sufficient , contributing to a worldwide glut of milk . Throughout the world , more than six billion people consume milk and milk products .
The domestic goat or simply goat ( Capra aegagrus hircus ) is a subspecies of C. aegagrus domesticated from the wild goat of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe . The goat is a member of the animal family Bovidae and the subfamily Caprinae , meaning it is closely related to the sheep . There are over 300 distinct breeds of goat . Goats are one of the oldest domesticated species of animal , and have been used for milk , meat , fur and skins across much of the world . Milk from goats is often turned into goat cheese . Female goats are referred to as does or nannies , intact males are called bucks or billies and juvenile goats of both sexes are called kids . Castrated males are called wethers . While the words hircine and caprine both refer to anything having a goat-like quality , hircine is used most often to emphasize the distinct smell of domestic goats . In 2011 , there were more than 924 million goats living in the world , according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization .
Sheep 's milk ( or ewes ' milk ) is the milk of domestic sheep . It is commonly used to make cultured dairy products such as cheese . Some of the most popular sheep cheeses include feta ( Greece ) , ricotta ( Italy ) , and Roquefort ( France ) . [ citation needed ]
Queijo de Nisa is a semi-hard sheep 's milk cheese from the municipality of Nisa , in the subregion of Alto Alentejo in Portugal . It is created from raw milk , which is coagulated , then curdled using an infusion of thistle . It is yellowish white , with a robust flavor and a somewhat acidic finish . Since 1996 , Nisa cheese has a protected geographical status . It is registered and has a Protected designation of origin ( PDO ) by the European Commission . It was honored by the magazine Wine Spectator as one of the world 's top 100 in an edition devoted to cheese : 100 Great Cheeses .
The Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alto Alentejo ( Portuguese pronunciation : [ ˈaɫtu ɐlẽˈtɛʒu ] ; English : Upper Alentejo ) is an administrative division in Portugal . It was created in 2009 . The seat of the intermunicipal community is Portalegre . Alto Alentejo is coterminous with the former Portalegre District . The population in 2011 was 118,506 , in an area of 6,084.34 km² . Together with Alentejo Central it covers the area of the former Alto Alentejo Province . With Ponte de Sor the intermunicipal community also includes one municipality that lies in the area of the former Ribatejo Province . Alto Alentejo is also a NUTS3 subregion of Alentejo Region , in Portugal . Since January 2015 , the NUTS 3 subregion covers the same area as the intermunicipal community .
Cheese is a dairy product derived from milk that is produced in a wide range of flavors , textures , and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein . It comprises proteins and fat from milk , usually the milk of cows , buffalo , goats , or sheep . During production , the milk is usually acidified , and adding the enzyme rennet causes coagulation . The solids are separated and pressed into final form . Some cheeses have molds on the rind , the outer layer , or throughout . Most cheeses melt at cooking temperature . Over a thousand types of cheese exist and are currently produced in various countries . Their styles , textures and flavors depend on the origin of the milk ( including the animal 's diet ) , whether they have been pasteurized , the butterfat content , the bacteria and mold , the processing , and how long they have been aged for . Herbs , spices , or wood smoke may be used as flavoring agents . The yellow to red color of many cheeses is produced by adding annatto . Other ingredients may be added to some cheeses , such as black pepper , garlic , chives or cranberries . A cheesemonger , or specialist seller of cheeses , may have expertise with selecting the cheeses , purchasing , receiving , storing and ripening them .
Nisa ( Portuguese pronunciation : [ ˈnizɐ ] ( listen ) ) is a municipality in Portalegre District in Portugal . The population in 2011 was 7,450 , in an area of 575.68 km² . The present Mayor is Maria Idalina Alves Trindade ( PS - Partido Socialista ) . The municipal holiday is Easter Monday . In addition , it lends its name to one of the most famous Portuguese sheep cheeses ( Certificate of Protected Origin or D.O.P . ) .
Curd is a dairy product obtained by coagulating milk in a process called curdling . The coagulation can be caused by adding rennet or any edible acidic substance such as lemon juice or vinegar , and then allowing it to coagulate . The increased acidity causes the milk proteins ( casein ) to tangle into solid masses , or curds . Milk that has been left to sour ( raw milk alone or pasteurized milk with added lactic acid bacteria ) will also naturally produce curds , and sour milk cheeses are produced this way . Producing cheese curds is one of the first steps in cheesemaking ; the curds are pressed and drained to varying amounts for different styles of cheese and different secondary agents ( molds for blue cheeses , etc . ) are introduced before the desired aging finishes the cheese . The remaining liquid , which contains only whey proteins , is the whey . In cow 's milk , 90 percent of the proteins are caseins . In Indian English , used only in the Indian subcontinent , curd or curds instead refers to the traditional homemade yogurt ( also known as dahi ) , while paneer and chhena are used to denote curdled milk . Though people often consider curd and yogurt to be the same , there 's a thin line of difference between the two . The preparation of curd requires a lactobacillus bacteria , while yogurt is made using two specific strains of bacteria called Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp . bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus bacteria .
Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins , mostly in the family Asteraceae . Prickles can also occur all over the plant - on the stem and on the flat parts of the leaves . These prickles are an adaptation that protects the plant from being eaten by herbivores . Typically , an involucre with a clasping shape similar to a cup or urn subtends each of a thistle 's flowerheads . The comparative amount of spininess varies dramatically by species . For example , Cirsium heterophyllum has minimal spininess while Cirsium spinosissimum is the opposite . Typically , species adapted to dry environments have greater spininess . The term thistle is sometimes taken to mean precisely those plants in the tribe Cardueae ( synonym : Cynareae ) , especially the genera Carduus , Cirsium , and Onopordum . However , plants outside this tribe are sometimes called thistles , and when this is done , thistles would form a polyphyletic group . A thistle is the floral emblem of Scotland and Lorraine , as well as the emblem of the Encyclopædia Britannica . Biennial thistles are particularly noteworthy for their high wildlife value , producing such things as copious floral resources for pollinators , nourishing seeds for birds like the goldfinch , foliage for butterfly larvae , and down for the lining of birds ' nests .
Cheese of Pico ( Portuguese : Queijo do Pico ) is a cheese originating from the island of Pico in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores . It has been classified as a Denomination of Protected Origin , in accordance with the laws of the European Union since October 1996 .
The Azores ( /əˈzɔːrz/ ə-ZORZ , also US : /ˈeɪzɔːrz/ AY-zorz ; Portuguese : Açores [ ɐˈsoɾɨʃ ] ) , officially the Autonomous Region of the Azores ( Região Autónoma dos Açores ) , is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal ( along with Madeira ) . It is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the Macaronesia region of the North Atlantic Ocean , about 1,360 km ( 850 mi ) west of continental Portugal , about 1,500 km ( 930 mi ) west of Lisbon , in continental Portugal , about 1,500 km ( 930 mi ) northwest of Morocco , and about 2,500 km ( 1,600 mi ) southeast of Newfoundland , Canada . Its main industries are agriculture , dairy farming , livestock , fishing , and tourism , which is becoming the major service activity in the region . In addition , the government of the Azores employs a large percentage of the population directly or indirectly in the service and tertiary sectors . The main city of the Azores is Ponta Delgada . There are nine major Azorean islands and an islet cluster , in three main groups . These are Flores and Corvo , to the west ; Graciosa , Terceira , São Jorge , Pico , and Faial in the centre ; and São Miguel , Santa Maria , and the Formigas Reef to the east . They extend for more than 600 km ( 370 mi ) and lie in a northwest-southeast direction . All the islands have volcanic origins , although some , such as Santa Maria , have had no recorded activity since the islands were settled . Mount Pico , on the island of Pico , is the highest point in Portugal , at 2,351 m ( 7,713 ft ) . If measured from their base at the bottom of the ocean to their peaks , which thrust high above the surface of the Atlantic , the Azores are actually some of the tallest mountains on the planet . The climate of the Azores is very mild for such a northerly location , being influenced by its distance from the continents and by the passing Gulf Stream .
Pico Island ( Ilha do Pico , Portuguese pronunciation : [ ˈiʎɐ du ˈpiku ] ) , is an island in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores . The landscape features an eponymous volcano , Ponta do Pico , which is the highest mountain in Portugal , the Azores , and the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge . In the tradition of the Portuguese poet , Raul Brandão , Pico is referred to as the Ilha Preta ( Black Island ) , for its black volcanic earth , responsible for its UNESCO-designated historical vineyards that allowed the development of the island .
Queijo de Azeitão is a Portuguese cheese originating from the town of Azeitão , in the municipality of Setúbal . It is produced in Setúbal , Palmela and Sesimbra . It has been granted PDO status in the European Union . In 2014 , Azeitão cheese was named one of the 50 best gastronomic products in the world by the Great Taste Awards .
Azeitão ( São Lourenço e São Simão ) is a civil parish in the municipality of Setúbal , Portugal . It was formed in 2013 by the merger of the former parishes São Lourenço and São Simão . The population in 2011 was 18,877 , in an area of 69.32 km² . It is composed of a cluster of small aldeias or small villages , some of those are : Vila Fresca de Azeitão , Vila Nogueira de Azeitão , Brejos de Azeitão , Aldeia de Irmãos , Vendas de Azeitão . Two of the closest cities are Setúbal and Palmela .
The District of Setúbal ( Portuguese : Distrito de Setúbal [ sɨˈtuβal , -βɐl ] ( listen ) ) is located in the south-west of Portugal , the District Capital is the city of Setúbal .
São Jorge Cheese ( Portuguese : Queijo São Jorge ) is a semi-hard to hard cheese , produced on the island of São Jorge , in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores , certified as a Região Demarcada do Queijo de São Jorge ( Demarcated Region of the Cheese of São Jorge ) and regulated as a registered Denominação de Origem Protegida ( Denomination of Protected Origin ) .
São Jorge ( Portuguese pronunciation : [ sɐ̃w ˈʒɔɾʒ ( ɨ ) ] ) is an island situated in the central group of the Azores archipelago and part of the autonomous region of Portugal . Separated from its nearest neighbors ( Pico and Faial islands ) by the 15 kilometres ( 9.3 mi ) Pico-São Jorge Channel , the central group is often referred colloquially as part of the Triangulo ( Triangle ) group or just The Triangle . São Jorge is a relatively long thin island with tall cliffs , whose 9500 inhabitants are concentrated on various geological debris fields ( fajãs ) along the north and south coasts ; from east to west , the island is 53 kilometres ( 33 mi ) long and , north to south , 8 kilometres ( 5.0 mi ) wide : its area is 237.59 square kilometres ( 91.73 sq mi ) .
Pasteurization or pasteurisation is a process in which water and certain packaged and non-packaged foods ( such as milk and fruit juice ) are treated with mild heat , usually to less than 100 °C ( 212 °F ) , to eliminate pathogens and extend shelf life . The process is intended to destroy or deactivate organisms and enzymes that contribute to spoilage or risk of disease , including vegetative bacteria , but not bacterial spores . Since pasteurization is not sterilization , and does not kill spores , a second double pasteurization will extend the quality by killing spores that have germinated . The process was named after the French microbiologist , Louis Pasteur , whose research in the 1880s demonstrated that thermal processing would inactivate unwanted microorganisms in wine . Spoilage enzymes are also inactivated during pasteurization . Today , pasteurization is used widely in the dairy industry and other food processing industries to achieve food preservation and food safety . Most liquid products are heat treated in a continuous system where heat can be applied using a plate heat exchanger and/or the direct or indirect use of hot water and steam . Due to the mild heat , there are minor changes to the nutritional quality and sensory characteristics of the treated foods . Pascalization or high pressure processing ( HPP ) and pulsed electric field ( PEF ) are non-thermal processes that are also used to pasteurize foods .
Milk is a nutrient-rich , white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals . It is the primary source of nutrition for infant mammals ( including humans who are breastfed ) before they are able to digest other types of food . Early-lactation milk contains colostrum , which carries the mother 's antibodies to its young and can reduce the risk of many diseases . It contains many other nutrients including protein and lactose . Interspecies consumption of milk is not uncommon , particularly among humans , many of whom consume the milk of other mammals . As an agricultural product , milk , also called dairy milk , is extracted from farm animals during or soon after pregnancy . Dairy farms produced about 730 million tonnes of milk in 2011 , from 260 million dairy cows . India is the world 's largest producer of milk , and is the leading exporter of skimmed milk powder , yet it exports few other milk products . The ever-increasing rise in domestic demand for dairy products and a large demand-supply gap could lead to India being a net importer of dairy products in the future . New Zealand , Germany and the Netherlands are the largest exporters of milk products . China and Russia were the world 's largest importers of milk and milk products until 2016 when both countries became self-sufficient , contributing to a worldwide glut of milk . Throughout the world , more than six billion people consume milk and milk products .
Serra da Estrela cheese ( Queijo Serra da Estrela ) is a cheese made in mountainous region of Serra da Estrela in Portugal , which has been granted PDO status in the European Union . The region where the Serra da Estrela cheese can be manufactured is limited to an area of 3,143.16 km2 ( 1,213.58 sq mi ) , which comprises the municipalities of Celorico da Beira , Fornos de Algodres , Gouveia , Mangualde , Manteigas , Nelas , Oliveira do Hospital , Penalva do Castelo , Carregal do Sal and Seia .
Serra da Estrela ( Portuguese pronunciation : [ ˈsɛʁɐ ðɐ ( ɨ ) ʃˈtɾelɐ ] , Star Mountain Range ) is the highest mountain range in Continental Portugal . Together with the Serra da Lousã it is the westernmost constituent range of the Sistema Central and also one of the highest in the system . It includes mainland Portugal 's highest point at 1,993 metres ( 6,539 feet ) above mean sea level ( although the summit of Mount Pico in the Portuguese Azores islands is higher ) . This point is not a distinctive mountain summit , but rather the highest point in a plateau , being known as Torre ( Tower in English ) . Torre is an unusual summit in that it is accessible by a paved road . The peak has a topographic prominence of 1,204 m ( 3,950 ft ) and its parent peak is Pico Almanzor , in Spain . The mountain range , situated between the municipalities of Seia , Manteigas , Gouveia , Guarda and Covilhã , is about 100 kilometres ( 60 miles ) long and is 30 km ( 19 mi ) across at its widest point . It is formed from a huge granite ridge that once formed the southern frontier of the country .
Sheep 's milk ( or ewes ' milk ) is the milk of domestic sheep . It is commonly used to make cultured dairy products such as cheese . Some of the most popular sheep cheeses include feta ( Greece ) , ricotta ( Italy ) , and Roquefort ( France ) . [ citation needed ]
Artisanal cheese refers to cheeses produced by hand using the traditional craftsmanship of skilled cheesemakers . As a result , the cheeses are often more complex in taste and variety . Many are aged and ripened to achieve certain aesthetics . This contrasts with the more mild flavors of mass-produced cheeses produced in large scale operations , often shipped and sold right away . Part of the artisanal cheese making process is aging and ripening of the cheeses to develop flavor and textural characteristics . One type of artisanal cheese is known as farmstead cheese , made traditionally with milk from the producer 's own herds of cows , sheep , and goats . Artisan cheeses may be made by mixing milk from multiple farms , whereas the more strict definition of farmstead cheese ( or farmhouse cheese ) requires that milk come only from one farm .
Requeijão ( Portuguese pronunciation : [ ʁekejˈʒɐ̃w ] ) is a milk-derived product , produced in Portugal and Brazil . It is sometimes called requesón ( the Spanish word for ricotta ) in English-speaking countries . It is a loose , ricotta-like cheese used to make cheese spreads . A mild , unsalty ricotta can be substituted . This variety is most often sold in the markets wrapped in fresh corn husks . In El Salvador , cheeses such as requesón can sometimes be transported wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks .
Brazil ( Portuguese : Brasil ; Portuguese pronunciation : [ bɾaˈziw ] ) , [ nt 1 ] officially the Federative Republic of Brazil ( Portuguese : República Federativa do Brasil , listen ( help·info ) ) , is the largest country in both South America and Latin America . At 8.5 million square kilometers ( 3.2 million square miles ) and with over 211 million people , Brazil is the world 's fifth-largest country by area and the sixth most populous . Its capital is Brasília , and its most populous city is São Paulo . The federation is composed of the union of the 26 states , the Federal District , and the 5,570 municipalities . It is the largest country to have Portuguese as an official language and the only one in the Americas ; it is also one of the most multicultural and ethnically diverse nations , due to over a century of mass immigration from around the world . Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east , Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 kilometers ( 4,655 mi ) . It borders all other countries in South America except Ecuador and Chile and covers 47.3% of the continent 's land area . Its Amazon River basin includes a vast tropical forest , home to diverse wildlife , a variety of ecological systems , and extensive natural resources spanning numerous protected habitats . This unique environmental heritage makes Brazil one of 17 megadiverse countries , and is the subject of significant global interest and debate regarding deforestation and environmental protection . Brazil was inhabited by numerous tribal nations prior to the landing in 1500 of explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral , who claimed the area for the Portuguese Empire . Brazil remained a Portuguese colony until 1808 , when the capital of the empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro . In 1815 , the colony was elevated to the rank of kingdom upon the formation of the United Kingdom of Portugal , Brazil and the Algarves .
Ricotta ( pronounced [ riˈkɔtta ] in Italian ) is an Italian whey cheese made from sheep , cow , goat , or Italian water buffalo milk whey left over from the production of other cheeses . Like other whey cheeses , it is made by coagulating the proteins that remain after the casein has been used to make cheese , notably albumin and globulin . Ricotta ( literally meaning recooked ) protein can be harvested if the whey is first allowed to become more acidic by additional fermentation ( by letting it sit for 12-24 hours at room temperature ) . Then the acidified whey is heated to near boiling . The combination of low pH and high temperature denatures the protein and causes it to precipitate , forming a fine curd . Once cooled , it is separated by passing the liquid through a fine cloth , leaving the curd behind . Ricotta curds are creamy white in appearance , and slightly sweet in taste . The fat content changes depending on the brand and the type of milk used . In this form , it is somewhat similar in texture to some cottage cheese variants , though considerably lighter . It is highly perishable . However , ricotta also is made in aged varieties which are preservable for much longer .