Reggianito

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Reggianito

Country of origin	Argentina
Region, town
Source of milk	Pasture-fed cows
Pasteurised	?
Texture	Hard, granular
Aging time	6 months
Certification

Reggianito is a very hard, granular, cows' milk cheese from Argentina whose origins lie with immigrant Italians who wished to make a cheese reminiscent of their native Parmigiano-Reggiano. The name—the Spanish dimunitive of ‘Reggiano’—refers to the fact that the cheese is produced in small 15 lb (6.8 kg) wheels, rather than the huge Parmigiano-Reggiano drums.

The cheese, which is rather saltier than its Italian parent, is generally used for cooking or for grating over pasta dishes. The aging period of 5—6 months, although longer than that of any other South American hard cheese, is shorter than that of Parmigiano-Reggiano.

In the years following World War I Italian cheese makers recognized Reggianito as a serious competitor in the export market and this fact was instrumental in the setting up the Parmigiano-Reggiano consortium. In the United States, it is often sold as Parmesan.