Balearic Islands · Spain
Mahón-Menorca.
Mahón-Menorca arrives as a distinctive golden square, its natural rind bearing the gentle imprint of centuries-old cloth pressing. Slice into its semi-hard paste and taste caramel sweetness mingling with bright tang and a whisper of salt—a buttery creaminess that builds across your palate, speaking of sun-warmed pastures and patient aging. The aroma is mild and inviting, with subtle lactic notes that deepen the longer it sits on your tongue.
Origin
39.6°N · 2.9°E
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Mahón-Menorca is a square-pillowed cow's milk cheese from the island of Menorca, produced there for centuries. British occupation of Menorca in the 18th century helped spread awareness of the cheese to Northern Europe.
The pillow shape comes from the cloth (fogasser) used to press the curd. It received Spanish DO protection in 1985 and EU PDO (as 'Mahón') in 1996.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Cow · pasteurised
- Family
- Semi-hard
- Rind
- natural
- Age
- 0–12 mo
- Protected
- PDO · since 1996
- Intensity
- 3 / 5
- Texture
- semi-hard
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Mahón-Menorca'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 Mahón-Menorca.
43 pairings across 6 categories.
Wine
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Mahón-Menorca are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Mahón-Menorca 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.
