Goat’s cheese from Lanzarote is famous far beyond the island’s borders due to its high quality. Some of Lanzarote’s cheese makers are usually on the winner’s lists of competitions and consistently win international prizes.
Hand-made cheeses from Lanzarote are an important part of the island’s culture and tradition. The secret of its success lies in the traditional production process, because the cheese is pressed and not cooked, which means that the cheese doesn’t lose its natural ingredients and vitamins. The color of the bark varies depending on the ripening period.
There are many different types of cheese to suit all tastes: cream cheese, barely, partially or heavily aged cheese; natural or smoked cheese; with a rind of Canarian gofio (toasted cereal flour), paprika powder or local herbs… One of the most famous varieties is the Majorera goat’s milk cheese. In addition, some high-quality cheeses from ecological production are also offered.
In Lanzarote, cheese is mainly made from goat’s milk, more precisely from the milk of the native goat “Majorera”. Despite the harsh and barren landscape, the local goats produce a surprising amount of milk.
The way of keeping livestock has hardly changed in the Canary Islands during the last two centuries. The livestock consists of animals that help with the work in the fields: donkeys, oxen or camels. Sheep, cows and especially goats were used for meat and milk production.
The goat was an invaluable resource for the native people. From keeping goats they obtained milk, cheese, meat, fat, leather for clothing and shoes. Tools were also carved from the horns.
The different types of cheese
Fresh goat cheese
Goat’s cream cheese offers a juicy aroma of fresh goat’s milk and a mild, smooth taste. The goat’s cream cheese is compact and has a grainy texture on the inside. Furthermore, goat’s cream cheese has a practically non-existent white rind.
Soft cheese made from goat’s milk
Soft cheese made from goat’s milk is also compact and has a creamy texture. The taste is mildly spicy and the rind is yellowish white.
Medium or semi-cured goat cheese
This goat’s cheese is slightly matured – for about 2-3 months – and has a tart, spicy and slightly sweet taste. Its texture is creamy inside and the rind is yellowish in color. Furthermore, semi-ripened goat cheese is often rubbed with paprika powder, gofio or local herbs to give it an even more aromatic taste.
Cured goat cheese
This goat’s cheese is somewhat firmer in texture and has a very tangy, tart taste. The rind is yellowish-brown and is also coated with paprika or gofio during the ripening process. The maturation period is 4 – 7 months.
If you are planning a holiday in Hoopoe Villas Lanzarote, you should definitely taste the great variety of products that are elaborated on Lanzarote and the tasty, culinary creations made from goat’s milk. In addition to the many different types of goat’s cheese, there are also yogurt, quark, cream cheese and much more. Some of Lanzarote’s best-known cheesemakers are: Finca de Uga, El Faro, Tinache, Montaña Blanca, Granja San Roque, Flor de Teguise, Flor de Luz, Atalaya, Rubicon, Tajaste and Montaña de Haría.
Several food and wine fairs are also organized in Lanzarote every year (Saborea Lanzarote Teguise, Feria de Queso Playa Blanca, etc.). Our Hoopoe Villas team will be happy to inform you about event dates and locations.
And remember, Lanzarote goat cheese tastes even better with a delicious Malvasia from one of La Geria’s wineries!
