Cotija cheese gets its name from the city of Cotija in the state of Michoacán Mexico. It is the most popular cheese topping for the iconic elote dish in the Mexican culture. Cotija is available in small wheels or large blocks and is a dry grating cheese made with raw cow's milk. It is easy to find in United States grocery stores and this salty Mexican cheese is typically aged at least 100 days. The aging causes its texture becomes crumbly, dense, and a hard cheese like Parmigiano-Reggiano.