Portugal Travel

Portugal produces a number of cheeses that are a match for the world's best. The queen of them all is the "Queijo da serra". It can be made only from milk of sheep grazing on the wild mountain herbs of the Serra da Estrela. At the peak of the season - winter - a properly ripened "serra" is as biting, buttery and runny as the finest Brie.

The "Serpa" from the Alentejo town of the same name, is ranked as the nation's second best. It's brushed regularly with paprika-laced oil.

The "Queijos frescos", snowy, uncured cheese much like cottage cheese, which calorie-conscious Portuguese sprinkle with cinnamon and eat in place of sweets.