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Fermentation Atlas

Cheese from Italy, Umbria

Pecorino stagionato in fossa/grotta (Umbria)Cacio in fossa

Made in 5 steps over 3.1 months – 4.1 months. The longest step, ripen, takes 3–4 months (Regione Umbria) and runs at 10–12 °C (Regione Umbria).

Key numbers
Main step3–4 monthsReported[pat-sheet][onaf-sheet]Ripen
Temperature10–12 °CReported[pat-sheet][onaf-sheet]Ripen

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedWhat goes in. No source gives amounts for this ferment.
sheep milk, pasteurised 70 °C, whole
Starter: thermophilic ferments

Total time across the recorded steps: 3.1 months – 4.1 months

Start
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70 °C

What changes: Pasteurised whole sheep milk goes into the vat

Step 1 of 5
Prepare the milk
Time
Not documented
Temperature
70 °C
Reported
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented

S, pasteurised 70 °C, whole

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
Not documented
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

Not documented for this step.

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source

What makes this one different

Herb-rennet, herb-oiled pecorino finished in sealed pits or caves. Made Feb–Apr, put in pits in August.

Rind
Thin skin, greasy, wet; white-amber
Size
1–3 kg; irregular, deformed

History and sources

Every number is labelled with how it is known. How this atlas is made

  1. [pat-sheet] Regione Umbria, PAT sheet 'Pecorino stagionato in fossa/grotta'gov
  2. [onaf-sheet] ONAF technical sheet 'Pecorino stagionato in botte, o in fossa/grotta'web