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Cheeses in Juruaia · MGMinas Gerais cheeses in Juruaia.
Aged and fresh Canastra, artisan semi-cured, parmesan and much more, by the kilo or whole wheel, in the Mirante neighborhood.
From Canastra to semi-cured.
Minas is the land of cheese, and the South of Minas has an entire route dedicated to it. At Ateliê da Lee you'll find the cheeses most often served at the Minas table, with suggestions on which to use for breakfast, on a snack board or in homemade pão de queijo (cheese bread).
The selection changes with the season and the harvest. Check on WhatsApp what is available that day.
Available cheeses
- Artisan semi-cured cheeseThin rind, soft interior and a bolder flavor. Great for the breakfast table and for gratins.
- Cured Canastra cheeseSold by the kilo. Intense flavor, typical of the Serra da Canastra.
- Fresh Canastra cheeseSold by the kilo. Milder and moister, to eat with sweets or on bread.
- Rigoni fresh cheese (frescal)Sold by the kilo. Light and fresh, for everyday.
- Standard Minas cheese (minas padrão)The thin-rind Minas Gerais classic, great for slicing.
- Matuto da Canastra ParmesanWhole, cut or in the per-kilo kit. Also available in the black-rind version.
- Matuto da Canastra Neapolitan mixA cheese combination for boards and snacks.
- Matuto da Canastra mozzarella sticksReady-to-serve snack.
- Dehydrated provolone (large jar)Crunchy, for snacking.
- Matuto da Canastra provolone with cured sausageCheese and charcuterie together, for boards.
- Matuto da Canastra tilsit cheeseButtery flavor, with eyes.
- Norte Minas Sul requeijãoSliceable requeijão, a tradition from northern Minas Gerais.
- Serra Mineira lineCheeses sold by the kilo, in several flavors.
- Bom da Fazenda truffled cheeseTraditional truffled cheese, small size.
How to choose and take home your cheese
For the breakfast table
Fresh Canastra, frescal or standard Minas cheese: soft, mild and great with pão de queijo and filter coffee.
For the snack board
Aged Canastra, Matuto da Canastra parmesan, tilsit and provolone. Complete it with goiabada cascão (guava paste), clarified butter (manteiga de garrafa) and preserves.
For travel
Choose cured cheeses (cured Canastra, semi-cured, parmesan): they handle the trip better. Carry fresh cheeses in a cooler bag and refrigerate them as soon as you arrive.
For cooking
Grated semi-cured cheese is the secret to creamy cornmeal cake and homemade pão de queijo (cheese bread).
Minas Gerais cheeses, explained
| Cheese | Aging | Flavor and texture | Pairs with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minas frescal (fresh cheese) | None or a few days | Moist, mild, lightly salted | Breakfast, goiabada |
| Minas padrão (standard Minas cheese) | A few weeks | Firm, sliceable, mild flavor | Sandwich, pão de queijo (cheese bread) |
| Semi-cured | A few weeks | Thin rind, soft interior, fuller flavor | Boards, cornmeal cake, gratins |
| Fresh Canastra | Follow | Soft and buttery | Doce de leite, coffee |
| Aged Canastra | Longer | Firm rind, intense and sharp flavor | Wine, cachaça, goiabada |
| Parmesan | Long | Dry, crumbly, salty | Grating, snacking, pasta |
| Provolone | Smoked | Bold flavor | Barbecue, cheese board |
How to put together a Minas Gerais board
- Three to five cheeses, from mildest to most intense.
- One sweet (goiabada cascão (guava paste) or doce de leite) and one jam.
- Something crunchy: cookies, toast or bread.
- Preserves and clarified butter (manteiga de garrafa) for variety.
- Take the cheeses out of the fridge 30 minutes before serving.
How to store
- Wrap it in parchment paper, then place it in a lidded container in the least cold part of the fridge.
- Avoid putting plastic wrap directly on aged cheese: it needs to breathe.
- If surface mold appears on a cured cheese, cut away that part with a generous margin.
Questions about cheeses
Where to buy cheese in Juruaia?
At Ateliê da Lee, Rua Vereador Alberto Mario Segreti, 97, Mirante neighborhood. We carry aged and fresh Canastra cheese by the kilo, artisan semi-cured cheese, parmesan, provolone, tilsit, minas padrão, requeijão de corte (sliceable cheese spread) and truffle cheese.
Can Canastra cheese be kept out of the fridge?
Aged Canastra, with its lower moisture, can handle a few hours out of the fridge, which makes the trip home easier. At home, store it in the least cold part of the fridge, wrapped in parchment paper. Fresh Canastra and frescal cheese should travel in a cooler bag.
What's the difference between fresh and cured Canastra cheese?
Fresh cheese is aged only a few days: it's moister, softer and milder. Aged cheese matures longer, developing a firm rind, a drier texture and a more intense flavor, great for boards and for eating with goiabada (guava paste).
Does Canastra cheese contain lactose?
Longer-cured cheeses tend to have little lactose, because it is consumed during ripening. Anyone with dietary restrictions should check the label; for sweets, the Ateliê has a lactose-free line.
Which cheese goes well with goiabada (guava paste)?
The classic pairing is Romeu e Julieta: Minas cheese (fresh or semi-cured) with goiabada cascão (guava paste). Aged Canastra also goes very well.
Your next stop in Juruaia.
Ateliê da LeeRua Vereador Alberto Mario Segreti, 97
Bairro Mirante · Juruaia, MG · CEP 37805-000
Phone and WhatsApp: (11) 99992-4741. Email: atendimento@ateliedalee.com.br. Directions, today's hours and reviews on our Google profile.