Cheese Database

Casu Marzu vs Pecorino Romano

Casu Marzu, field guide plate
Casu Marzu, photographed

Casu Marzu

Facts

Milk
Sheep
Texture
Soft
Rind
Natural rind
Country
Italy
Place
Sardinia

Casu Marzu is a traditional sheep's milk cheese from Sardinia, in Italy, and it is not a cheese for ordinary shops. Makers start with a firm pecorino and leave the wheel where cheese flies can lay eggs in the paste. Larvae then break the cheese down until the center is very soft, sharp, and pungent. You will not find it in a supermarket case. Food rules do not treat it as a normal commercial cheese, and eating live larvae can be unsafe.

Pecorino Romano, field guide plate
Pecorino Romano, photographed

Pecorino Romano

Facts

Milk
Sheep
Texture
Hard
Type
Pressed
Rind
Natural rind
Country
Italy
Place
Lazio, Sardinia, and Tuscany
Status
PDO

Pecorino Romano is a hard, salty sheep's-milk cheese. Pecora is the Italian word for sheep. Romano is the Roman style.