Piedmont · Italy
Bra.
Bra is a study in transformation: the young tenero version melts with buttery softness and whispers of hay, while the aged duro develops a firmer crumb and assertive nuttiness with herbaceous undertones. Either way, you'll find subtle tang threading through, a semi-hard texture that yields to pressure, and that distinctive cellar earthiness that speaks of Piedmont's mountain caves.
Origin
45.1°N · 7.9°E
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Bra takes its name from the Piedmontese town of Bra in Cuneo province—hometown of the Slow Food movement.
It was historically traded at the Bra market, where merchants brought it from mountain producers. Both a soft fresh version (tenero) and a harder aged version (duro) exist under the PDO — Italian DOC in 1982, EU PDO in 1996.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Cow · raw
- Family
- Semi-hard
- Rind
- natural
- Age
- 1–12 mo
- Protected
- PDO · since 1996
- Intensity
- 2 / 5
- Texture
- semi-hard
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Bra's flavour and aroma notes, scaled by the cheese's overall intensity — a quick guide, not a lab measurement.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100 g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100 g serving — about a finger-thick wedge. Daily values use the FDA 2020 reference of 2,000 kcal. Expect ±5% variation between wheels.
Serve, cut & store
Out of the fridge,
into its prime.
Guidance for semi-hard cheeses — general practice, not a per-wheel measurement.
Rest
Take it out about ≈1 h before serving — cold stiffens the fat and locks up the aromas; cool room temperature is when the flavour shows up.
Cut
Cut thin half-moons or batons from the wedge; trim waxed or inedible rinds as you go.
Store
Wrap leftovers in cheese paper or wax paper — never cling film, which suffocates the rind — and keep them in the warmest part of the fridge.
Rule of thumb: the softer and riper, the longer it needs. Thick pieces need longer than thin — and don't leave cheese out much past two hours.
Pairings · Caseo curated
What goes with Bra.
43 pairings across 8 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Bra are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Bra at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
Take it with you
Want to remember this one?.
Log it, pair it, and keep your own tasting notes — Caseo is free.
