Santo Stefano di Quisquina cheese
Product included in the national list of traditional agri-food products (PAT)
PAT type: Cheeses
Production area: S. Stefano di Quisquina, Castronovo di Sicilia, Cammarata, Bivona, Palazzo Adriano.
Technical data sheet of the traditional agri-food product (PAT)
Area of production: S. Stefano di Quisquina, Castronovo di Sicilia, Cammarata, Bivona, Palazzo Adriano.
Brief description of the product: The typical cheese is obtained by making sheep's milk cheeses sometimes combined with small and variable percentages of cow's milk. Its shape is typically cylindrical, with a concave upper face. The straw-white colored rind is distinguished by the signs impressed by the junco precentino.
Description of the processing and maturing methods: The transformation process with which the S. Stefano di Quisquina cheese is obtained largely follows the standard process of Sicilian Pecorino PDO, except for some particular precautions directly linked to the historical traditions of the area.
Specific materials and equipment used for preparation and conditioning: "Tina di lignu ": container formed by wooden slats joined in a truncated cone shape," Patella ": wooden tool consisting of a stick with a helical wooden flat at the tip; "Precentino di junco": cylindrical container, open in the upper face and in which the "Tuma" is placed; "Quadaru" copper container, tinned at the base, in which the whey is placed and from which ricotta is obtained.
Description of the processing, storage and maturing rooms: Suitable company structures created in application of the restrictive sanitation regulations for the transformation of dairy products.
Elements proving that the methodologies have been practiced in a homogeneous way and according to traditional rules for a period of not less than 25 years: Ethnic-anthropological-pastoral museum created in the early 80's in which several of the ancient working tools mentioned are preserved.
Memory of a Stefanese (book written by Filippo Leto). S. Stefano di Quisquina, historical-tourist guide written by Costantino Chillura and Giuseppe Rizzo.
Source Pat Cards: Sicily Region
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Information contributions: Web, Region of Sicily
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