Cheese Database

Berkswell vs Manchego

Berkswell

Facts

Milk
Sheep
Texture
Hard
Type
Pressed
Rind
Natural rind
Country
United Kingdom

Berkswell is a hard sheep's milk cheese from the United Kingdom. A natural rind covers a pale, firm paste, and the wheel often has a rounded shape with marks from the basket mold. The flavor moves from sweet and nutty toward a savory tang as it ages. It is often compared with manchego or a firm pecorino, but it is a British farmhouse cheese with its own make. It is not an ordinary supermarket block, and supply sits with specialist shops.

Manchego, field guide plate
Manchego, photographed

Manchego

Facts

Milk
Sheep
Texture
Semi-hard
Type
Pressed
Rind
Natural rind
Country
Spain
Place
La Mancha
Status
PDO

Manchego is a pressed sheep's-milk cheese from La Mancha, and a protected name. The milk comes from Manchega sheep. The traditional rind shows a herringbone pattern from the old esparto molds.