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Fermentation Atlas

Cheese from Argentina

ReggianitoQueso Reggianito

Argentina's small grana-type cheese. Raw or pasteurised cow milk is set with rennet and a thermophilic whey starter rich in Lactobacillus helveticus, the curd is cooked at about 50–56 °C, pressed and salted, and the 5–10 kg wheels ripen at least 6 months. Studies ripen it at 12 °C and 85 % humidity. Made in 4 steps over 6 months. The longest step, ripen, takes at least 6 months (Código Alimentario Argentino 2006) and runs at 12 °C (Sihufe G.A. et al. 2010). Lactobacillus helveticus does most of the fermenting.

Key numbers
Main stepat least 6 monthsSet[caa-635]Ripen
Temperature12 °CMeasured[sihufe2010]Ripen
Fully documentedCheese6 monthsDefined in the Código Alimentario Argentino (Art. 635)Family: Parmigiano ReggianoMore extra-hard grana cheesesMore from Argentina

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedThe Código fixes ingredients, weight and minimum ripening but no amounts. A Reggianito weighs 5–10 kg.
Cow milk · Whole or standardised for fat; raw or pasteurised[caa-635]
Lactic acid bacteria cultures · Natural whey starters or selected Lactobacillus helveticus strains[caa-635][candioti2002]
Rennet or other suitable coagulating enzymes[caa-635]
Salt (sodium chloride)[caa-635]
Cream, milk protein concentrate, calcium chloride · Optional[caa-635]
Starter: natural whey culture or selected Lactobacillus helveticus

Total time across the recorded steps: 6 months

Start
Drag the bar or press Play
shapes, not to countLactobacillus helveticus

What changes: Whey starter and rennet go into the cow milk and it sets to a curd

Step 1 of 4
Add starter and rennet
Time
Not documented
Temperature
Not documented
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Lactobacillus helveticus

Output: curd.

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

Reggianito follows the grana method of Parmigiano Reggiano, but it is a much smaller wheel (5–10 kg) ripened at least 6 months, may use pasteurised or standardised milk, and is made under the Argentine food code, not a protected origin.

Milk
Cow milk, whole or standardised for fat; raw or pasteurised
Ripening
At least 6 months for 4–10 kg cheeses
Composition
Low moisture; at least 32 g fat per 100 g dry matter
Size
Flat-faced cylinder, 5–10 kg

Related ferments

Safety

Raw or pasteurised milk is allowed. The Código recommends keeping these hard cheeses at no more than 20 °C to keep their character.

History and sources

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

A 2010 study calls Reggianito a grana-type cheese typical of Argentina and its most exported cheese. Its standard sits in Article 635 of the Código Alimentario Argentino, with Parmesano, Reggiano and Sbrinz.

  1. [caa-635] Código Alimentario Argentino, Chapter VIII (Alimentos lácteos), Article 635 (Resolución Conjunta SPRyRS 33/2006 and SAGPyA 563/2006), version updated March 2019spec
  2. [candioti2002] Candioti M.C. et al. 2002, Reggianito Argentino cheese, influence of Lactobacillus helveticus strains isolated from natural whey cultures on cheese making and ripening processes, International Dairy Journal 12(11):923–931 (abstract)paper
  3. [costabel2015] Costabel L.M. et al. 2015, Influence of chymosin type and curd scalding temperature on proteolysis of hard cooked cheeses, Journal of Dairy Research 82(3):375–384 (abstract)paper
  4. [hynes2004] Hynes E.R., Aparo L., Candioti M.C. 2004, Influence of residual milk-clotting enzyme on alpha(s1) casein hydrolysis during ripening of Reggianito Argentino cheese, Journal of Dairy Science 87(3):565–573 (abstract)paper
  5. [sihufe2010] Sihufe G.A. et al. 2010, Acceleration of cheese ripening at elevated temperature, an estimation of the optimal ripening time of a traditional Argentinean hard cheese, Food Chemistry 119(1):101–107 (abstract)paper
  6. [wolf2010] Wolf I.V. et al. 2010, Study of the chemical composition, proteolysis, lipolysis and volatile compounds profile of commercial Reggianito Argentino cheese, Food Research International 43(4):1204–1211 (abstract)paper