Nuvola di Pecora Cheese

Nuvola di Pecora – An Italian Sheep’s Milk Cheese

Here comes a semi-soft sheep’s milk cheese from Northern Italy that’s rustic in style with a creamy and meaty flavor. Somewhat hard to find, Nuvola di Pecora or “Sheep’s Cloud” comes from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy between the Appenine Mountains and the River Po.

Aged for about thirty days so it can develop its thin, bloomy rind, Nuvola di Pecora cheese has a firm but pliable texture. It’s produced in 3 pounds squares and has a ivory interior. Taste wise; it is somewhat mild with just a touch of sheep flavor.

Most of the sheep’s milk cheese I’m familiar with like Manchego or Pecorino are hard cheeses with distinct sheep flavor. This is what makes Nuvola di Pecora so unique and somewhat rare and expensive. I paid $25 per pound for a small taste!

I really enjoy sheep’s milk cheeses but they are not as popular with the rest of my family so when I can find a cheese like this that everyone will enjoy, I’m in luck. Even the kids thought it was “ok”. I’ll take “ok”.

Don’t overpower this cheese with a big red wine. A lighter red like Pinot Noir would be good. I might even try it with a chardonnay although not at breakfast when I eat most of my cheeses on Saturday morning after a trip to the farmers market.

Region: Romagna
Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep
Milk Treatment: Pasteurized
Rennet: Traditional
Rind: Bloomy
Texture: Firm
Aging: 30 days
Size(s): 3 pound square
Price I Paid: $24.99/pound

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I strongly urge you to find a good cheese shop near you so you can get to know your cheesemongers and they get to know you. However, if you don't have a good local cheese shop or they don't have some of the cheeses I recommend, here are some online sources for you. Be careful to buy the best product you can afford so you don't end up with an inferior product. The links below are affiliate links.

Murray's Cheese

When I lived in New York City, Murray's was one of my favorite places to buy artisanal cheese, charcuterie and fine accoutrements. Murray's is one of the oldest cheese purveyors in New York and now they are bringing their amazing selection of quality foods and cheeses right to your doorstep. Check out Murray's today.

Di Bruno Bros.

Di Bruno Brothers is close to home to me. They have been in Philadelphia since 1939 and prided themselves on bringing amazing food to the city of Philadelphia and drawing food lovers together in their ‘home.’ They also have a store just outside of Philly where I get most of my cheese and cured meats. If you can't find a particular cheese in your market, most likely Di Bruno Bros. will.