Grana Padano PDO cheese and Prosciutto di Parma PDO stand at the pinnacle of European culinary heritage. These exceptional products continue to gain attention among consumers and chefs due to their quality, authenticity, and tradition.
Helping deli staff understand the unique attributes of these products will enhance their customer relations and the sales of these premium products.
Understanding PDO
The PDO certification guarantees high quality, authenticity, and traceability. It sets strict production specifications, ensuring that Grana Padano and Prosciutto di Parma are produced within defined geographical areas using time-honoured methods. The PDO system protects these names legally, helping consumers distinguish between authentic products and their imitators. The Consorzio’s overseeing Grana Padano and Prosciutto di Parma ensure each step of production adheres to these standards, promoting and protecting these exceptional foods.
What Makes Grana Padano PDO Cheese Special?
Grana Padano cheese is celebrated for its unique characteristics and rich history:
- Production Method: Made from partially skimmed raw cow’s milk from the Po River Valley, in Northern Italy, Grana Padano cheese undergoes a meticulous production process.
- Identifying Authenticity: When purchasing Grana Padano cheese, look for the markings on the rind – small lozenges (rhombuses or diamonds) with “GRANA” and “PADANO” inscribed. Pre-packaged wedges should display the yellow Grana Padano and PDO logos.
- Flavour and Texture: Grana Padano is known for its grainy structure and mellow, savoury flavour. It can be aged from 9 to over 24 months, each stage offering a different tasting profile: from mild and creamy when young, to nutty and distinctive, yet never overpowering when aged.
- Nutritional Benefits: This cheese is rich in quality proteins, vitamins, and mineral salts, especially calcium. Due to its production and aging process, it is also naturally lactose-free.
Historical Background
Grana Padano’s roots trace back almost 1,000 years to the Benedictine monks in Northern Italy. To preserve surplus milk, they created a hard cheese that could withstand time, known as “Grana” for its grainy texture. In 1954, it was officially named “Grana Padano,” linking it to its production area, the Pianura Padana (Po River Valley).
The Allure of Prosciutto di Parma
Prosciutto di Parma is another European product that epitomizes the essence of PDO:
- Natural Production: Prosciutto di Parma is made only from the hind legs of specially-bred Italian pigs and sea salt and is completely natural, free of preservatives, additives and hormones. Its aging process, which ranges from a minimum of 14 to over 36 months, develops a variety of flavour profiles from mild and nutty to mature and full-flavoured.
- Authenticity Indicators: Authentic Prosciutto di Parma can be identified by the gold Parma Crown logo and the PDO symbol on pre-sliced packages and the Crown logo fire-branded into the whole legs, freshly sliced from the deli counter.
- Flavour Development: Cured in the Parma region’s unique climate, the hams are meticulously salted by experienced salt masters. The curing process, which traditionally involves capturing aromatic breezes during the long curing process, ensures a savoury-sweet profile.
Historical Background
The history and region of Prosciutto di Parma production are what set it apart from other prosciutti in the world. Since Roman times, this geographically protected food has been world renowned for its delicately salty, yet uniquely sweet flavour and buttery texture. In Parma, making prosciutto is part of an age-old tradition passed on from generation to generation and many of the methods used thousands of years ago have remained the same.
By law, Prosciutto di Parma can only be cured in the Parma region. The process involves careful monitoring of humidity and temperature for at least 400 days, resulting in perfectly cured ham every time.
Grana Padano cheese and Prosciutto di Parma are more than just foods; they are cultural treasures. As a deli staff member, conveying the unique attributes and the rich heritage of these products to customers will enhance their shopping experience and appreciation for authentic European delicacies. By understanding and sharing the story behind Grana Padano and Prosciutto di Parma, you help preserve and celebrate these culinary masterpieces.
