International Journal of Food Engineering Vol. 6, No. 2, December 2020 The Science behind Traditional Products: The Case of Portuguese Cheeses Raquel P. F. Guiné1 and Sofia G. Florença2 1CI&DETS/ESAV, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu/Department of Food Industry, Viseu, Portugal 2Faculty of Nutrition Sciences, University of Porto, Oporto, Portugal Email:
[email protected] Abstract—Portugal is situated in the Iberian Peninsula, any other components, like for example salt. From the having climacteric influences of the Atlantic Ocean together Middle Ages, the manufacture of more refined cheeses with the Mediterranean Sea, which, allied to the landscape would be restricted to Catholic monasteries, with new and fertile soil results in good pastures that potentiate the recipes developed by their monks. The technique of animal production. Hence, Portugal is very rich in what cheese production has modernized over time. Some fungi concerns traditional cheeses, made with cow, goat, sheep or mixture milks, and which are characterized by very spores are used in some cheeses and added to milk. The particular tastes, colours and consistencies, besides being production technology of cheese, so much appreciated in also different in terms of chemical composition. The number old times as today, is based on three fundamental of Portuguese traditional cheeses is very high, although only discoveries: 1) the discovery of milk; 2) the discovery of a part of them have already been registered under the curdle technology and whey separation; and 3) discovery European Union designations for protection of origin. These of rennet (animal or vegetable) [1], [2]. have different processing technologies and are characterized The Egyptians are among the first people who tended by singular aspects that differentiate among them.