| Experiência: Prova de queijos da Serra da Estrela

Serra da Estrela's
Cheese Tasting

In the evening, at Casa Cerro da Correia, right in front of the Zêzere Glacier Valley, we will taste a selection of Serra da Estrela sheep and goat cheeses. We've chosen for the occasion wines from the Beiras region.

What we will be doing

Nesta atividade, que dura de 2 a 3 horas, provaremos alguns dos melhores queijos da Serra da Estrela.

Inês and Miguel were amazing hosts - they were flexible with the time of the experience and very knowledgeable about cheese and also the local area. Not only did we get to taste local cheeses and hear tales about the local shepherds and cheesemakers, but also taste homemade compotes, olives and apples from their back yard and local breads, nuts, wine and fresh water. Speaking with them was like visiting friends whilst we sat inside with a warm fire and I would highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in cheese and authentic Portuguese experiences.

Até agora tive diversas boas experiências em Portugal, mas a prova com a Inês e o Miguel, não foi só boa, foi incrível, genuína, essencial. Atravessei o Atlântico para conhecer a essência do país, por isso estou viajando 20 dias pelo interior e com eles encontrei parte dessa essência. Mineira que sou, o queijo e a Serra da Estrela eram das minhas maiores expectativas, e descobrir que existe uma enorme variedade de curas, maturações, sabores e tipos de leite utilizados foi uma grata surpresa e uma explosão de sabores. Isso sem contar os demais produtos locais que acompanharam a experiência: doces, vinhos, castanhas, frutos... Além de tudo, o cuidado deles em apresentar o método de preparo e toda a história que envolve o queijo, em selecionar produtos realmente locais, de pequenos produtores e agricultura familiar, mostra que eles realmente estão preocupados em contar a linda história dessa serra que ganhou meu coração.

Oh G... The hours we spent with Ines and Miguel were sublime. They are ambassadors of the gods of cheese, who definitely must live right in the Serra da Estrela. I had known and acknowledged that before I met the two of them. But now I do know more about the half-gods, who live up in the Serra and strive to worship their gods by processing the goat and sheep milk into something mind-blowing - a true taste of the land. Queijo da Serra da Estrela. And Ines performs magic in the kitchen to pass their guests jams and quince delicacies that underline the scent and the savour of the phenomenal milk products she introduces. What I would not have expected was, that we sat for hours and chatted the time away. And I learned about my so far favourite country, not out of a book or a travel guide but out of personal experience and life, that has been lived. Thank you for the time you spent with us, and an introspective into the soul of the Serra!

We love cheese. And this is a cheese lovers tour! We learned about the local traditions at a beautiful table with a gorgeous view (with plenty of food and wine for dinner). We even visited the neighbor - a goat and sheep herder - during milking. Inêz and Miguel provide a unique experience (all in English!) that you just can’t create on your own. Do it!

Experiência incrível e única! Para quem gosta de queijos e novos sabores essa é a experiência ideal. Casal muito simpático fez de tudo para que a experiência fosse singular, preparam com cuidado e carinho de tudo, inclusive colocando doces à mesa que eles mesmo fizeram, uma delícia! Todos produtos bem preparados e pensados para o momento. Noite estava agradável e ficamos no terraço. Comida e companhia perfeita.

Ines and Miguel were friendly and engaging hosts. Their table was filled with delicious cheeses from the area, tasty bread, regional wine, fruits and special toppings. We enjoyed learning about the cheese culture around Manteigas and would recommend this experience to others interested in spending quality time with a knowledgeable local couple.