The most traditional Andalucian winter food
A route to enjoy the best cheese in the world, the Payoyo cheese
There is no doubt, Sierra de Cadiz has a unique attractive among those who wish to enjoy a spectacular and always interesting nature, with the Grazalema Natural Park, Biosphere reserve, as the epicenter that combines nature, tourism and environment. One of its main attractions and that many already know is the White Villages Route, but perhaps not so much its cuisine, its cheese, its culture and history, its traditions.
Among the typical dishes of the Sierra are cooked asparagus in all its varieties, the tagarninas, garlic and tomato soups, cortijeras soups, the alboronía, the cabrillas, the loin in lard, the free-range chicken… and a long list of products and dishes result of the fusion of cultures that have lived in all the villages inhabiting it. An example of this is found in its artisan Andalucian cheeses, made mainly from milk of native species in the area: the payoya goat and the Merino sheep.
Villages like El Bosque, Villamartin, Grazalema or Villaluenga del Rosario have made of these products genuine stars in food contests and gourmet salons, turning Cadiz in the ‘land of cheeses’, of delights that you will have to try.
Types of cheese
The name payoyo refers to one of the types of artisan cheeses that are produced in the province, particularly in Grazalema and Villaluenga del Rosario, perhaps the best known and most recognized internationally. It comes from a species of native goat in Sierra de Cadiz, the payoya goat from whose milk we get a completely Eco-friendly and delicious cheese.
But there are also cheeses of El Bosque, like El Bosqueño of goat and sheep made by craftsman’s hands in the traditional way, they come in a wide variety: cured, cured in oil, cured in Iberian pig lard, spicy, with rosemary, with paprika and emborrado Sierra style.
The Pajarete of Villamartin artisan cheeses, El Gazul of Alcalá de los Gazules organic cheeses, La Cabra Verde of Arcos de la Frontera cheeses, also organic and artisanal, cheeses like El Bucarito of Rota.
All of them awarded in various national and international competitions with different distinctions.
Itinerary
Villaluenga
On a Cheese’s Tour of Sierra de Cadiz a visit to the smallest town of the province and the birthplace of payoyo cheese is mandatory. Headquarters of the already more than famous Artisan Cheese Fair, in Villaluenga we will visit one of the reference companies of the sector, Payoyo Cheeses, and its Cheese Interpretation Center, located at 14 Ermita Street. In it we can buy its cheeses, besides local and craft products of the area. Also, of course, have tastings.
Where to eat or buy
Payoyo Cheese
Ermita, 14. Villaluenga del Rosario–Phone: +34 956 463 759
Ubrique
The town of Ubrique in Cadiz is known worldwide for its leather goods, bags and purses industry, among other leather products, and this material is, without a doubt, the hallmark of this town in the Sierra de Cadiz. What many do not know is that, next to leather, in Ubrique we can also enjoy artisan cheese of payoya goat’s milk of Sierra de Grazalema and Sierra de Ubrique Natural Park. One of the leading companies in this sector is Quesos Sierra de Ubrique, that although having a reduced production and catalogue, its products will reach anywhere without moving from home as they are sold by the Internet.
Where to eat or buy
Sierra de Ubrique Artisan Cheese Factory
de Ubrique-Cortes, El Poyetón s/n, 11600 Ubrique, Cádiz / + 34 956 46 05 21
El Bosque
On the Cheese’s Tour of Sierra de Cadiz the third required stop is El Bosque, to learn about El Bosqueno cheeses, one of the leading cheese brands of payoya goat and Grazalema merino sheep. On this municipality of Cadiz we can visit the Museum of Cheese, place where we can learn about the cheese making process through history, see two real reproductions of payoya goat and Grazalema merino sheep, utensils for products manufacture, and enjoy cheese tastings, as well as workshops, guided tours and buy local products. By the way, don’t forget to ask for some of their new products like the cured cheese in myrtle liquor, rum, paprika and emborrado in wheat bran. Lip-smacking!
Where to eat or buy
Museum and Interpretation Center of the El Bosqueño cheese
In addition to the informative tour you can buy varied local products including cheeses. Not far from El Bosque, on the road that leads to Grazalema (A-372, km.50) is located the Las Hazuelas Farm where we can know how the cheeses in the Sierra de Cádiz are made, it is a training workshop where visitors can participate. You can also attend a cheese tasting guided by a monitor. Phones: +34 646 116 694 – +34 956 234 018
We can also take part in the production of bread in an old mill of the 18th century located in Molino de Abajo (next to the bullring). And when it is cooked, take it, or they will deliver it to your hotel.
And to finish the culinary circuit visit the Rivero Wineries in Prado del Rey and taste their red and white wines
Grazalema
The Cheese’s Tour of Sierra de Cadiz takes us to the town of Grazalema, here are several companies that we can visit. We recommend you to go to Quesos de la Abuela Agustina. in this company, with a very limited production, artisan cheeses from raw milk (unpasteurized) are made, with age-old recipes. We are sure that its traditional recipes and artisan development processes will delight you.
Where to eat or buy
Quesos de la Abuela Agustina.
7, Plaza Pequeña, 11610 Grazalema, Cádiz / + 34 686 25 04 68
Villamartín
The Cheese’s Tour of Sierra de Cadiz would not be complete without a visit to the Cadiz town of Villamartin to taste one of the most awarded Spanish cheeses of recent times, a thrill in the sector and that we have in our land, one of the last awards was in the World Cheese Contest, it is one of the Pajarete cheeses. Within its variety of traditional products we recommend you to ask for a cheese made from Assaf sheep’s milk, feature of this brand and unusual in Sierra de Cadiz cheeses, long-aged, between 12 and 15 months and a cured cheese with a mixture of Payoya goat and Assaf sheep milks. Lip-smacking!
Where to eat or buy
Pajarete Cheeses
El Chaparral, nave 6.Carretera-A382 / Phone: + 34 956 730 547
Arcos de la Frontera
Arcos de la Frontera, gateway of the white villages route, and one of the most beautiful villages of Cadiz, is also a leader in the production of artisan cheeses, and our next stop on the Cheese’s Tour of Sierra de Cadiz. In this town, we recommend visiting La Cabra Verde and its cheese and organic yogurt production from organic milk of the indigenous goats of the Sierra de Cádiz. You’re bound to taste its young cheese medallions in organic extra virgin olive oil of the highest quality from the Sierra de Cadiz with spices and herbs.
Where to eat or buy
La Cabra Verde Cheeses
Las Pedrizas s/n / Phone: +34 647 145 957
Alcalá de los Gazules
Although the town is not in the sierra de Cadiz, but in the region of La Janda next to Los Alcornocales Natural Park, produces one of the most exquisite goat cheeses of the province, El Gazul. There is a large cheese-making tradition in Alcalá, cheeses were made by all the houses and surroundings and thus continues: fresh, organic semi-cured, cured in oil, flavored with rosemary…
Where to eat or buy
El Gazul Cheese Factory
Ind. la Palmosa, parcela 20 / Phone and fax: 956 420 307
Learn about different types of ham. 100% acorn-fed Iberico ham is the best
The best virgin olive oils in the world are Andalucian, which ones should we try?
Where to stay
Hotel Fuerte Grazalema
Fuerte Hoteles is always the best option to stay in Andalusia, know its cities and rest. The chain has establishments where you can enjoy, in addition to its amenities, of the best of each point of the region, a good example of it is Fuerte Grazalema, nestled in the mountain and with a spectacular pool that makes you forget about everything and enjoy more naturally the most relaxing holidays. On the other hand, if you prefer lounging on the beach, Fuerte Conil is located opposite one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain, La Fontanilla beach. It stands out for its unique Andalusian style, its 25,000 square meters of gardens, 4 outdoor swimming pools, Jacuzzi, tennis court and a full Spa.
