Minas Gerais · Brazil
Minas Frescal.
Minas Frescal is a whisper of a cheese—delicate and milky with a barely-there tang that awakens the palate without demanding attention. Its cloud-soft crumb melts on your tongue with the clean, subtle flavor of fresh cream and cultured milk, leaving behind only a whisper of lactic brightness. It's the cheese equivalent of a blank canvas: mild enough to let other ingredients shine, yet distinctive enough to anchor a plate.
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The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Queijo Minas Frescal is Brazil's most widely consumed fresh cheese, originating in Minas Gerais state (whose name means General Mines, reflecting its colonial mining history).
It developed in the 18th century as Portuguese settlers established dairy farming. It is Brazil's version of fresh ricotta or queso fresco, used in everything from sweet desserts to savory dishes.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Cow · pasteurised
- Family
- Fresh
- Rind
- rindless
- Age
- 0–1 mo
- Intensity
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
Caseo's flavour axes are drawn from each cheese's flavour and aroma profile. This is Minas Frescal's fingerprint.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100g 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 fresh cheeses — general practice, not a per-wheel measurement.
Rest
Take it out about 20–30 min before serving — cold stiffens the fat and locks up the aromas; cool room temperature is when the flavour shows up.
Cut
Slice with a wet knife or simply spoon it — fresh cheeses don't need ceremony.
Store
Fresh and brined cheeses keep best covered in their liquid — and are happiest eaten within days.
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 Minas.
26 pairings across 6 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Minas Frescal are being verified. Check back soon.
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Substitutes
No Minas Frescal at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
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