Campania · Italy
Provolone del Monaco.
Golden and semi-firm, Provolone del Monaco opens with a sharp, almost peppery bite that mellows into buttery richness and whispered notes of Mediterranean herbs and stone fruit. The paste is dense yet yielding, releasing subtle cream notes as it warms on your palate—a cheese that builds complexity with each bite rather than announcing itself all at once.
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The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Provolone del Monaco is an ancient cheese from the Sorrentine Peninsula and Lattari Mountains, made from the milk of the Agerolese cattle breed.
The name 'del Monaco' (of the monk) refers to the large cloaks (simulating monk's habits) that cheesemakers wore when transporting it to Naples markets in the 18th century. PDO was granted in 2010.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Cow · raw
- Family
- Pasta filata
- Rind
- natural
- Age
- 6–18 mo
- Protected
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
Caseo's flavour axes are drawn from each cheese's flavour and aroma profile. This is Provolone del Monaco'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.
Estimated values — based on similar cheese family data
Serve, cut & store
Out of the fridge,
into its prime.
Guidance for pasta filata 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
Tear, don't cut — torn mozzarella and burrata expose more surface and taste creamier.
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 Provolone.
27 pairings across 7 categories.
Wine
Spirits
Fruits & Jams
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Provolone del Monaco are being verified. Check back soon.
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Substitutes
No Provolone del Monaco at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
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