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Some cheeses tell a story the moment you see them. Paglia e Fieno tells that story even before you take your first bite. As soon as the cheese is unwrapped, a subtle aroma rises, reminiscent of dried herbs, summer flowers and the hills of Casalbore. Not because any flavourings have been added, but because during its maturation this cheese is literally enveloped in straw and fragrant hay, just as the local cheesemakers have been doing for generations.
At Kelvini Italian Artisan, we’re not looking for industrial perfection, but for products with soul. Paglia e Fieno is just such a discovery. An artisanal Southern Italian cheese that brings together the tranquillity of the countryside and the bounty of nature in every slice.
In the mountainous region between Campania and Puglia, the tradition of natural cheese maturation is still very much alive. Once the young cheese has been carefully shaped, it is left to mature for months amongst layers of straw and aromatic hay.
This natural environment not only protects the cheese, but also gives it its characteristic aroma and a refined, spicy note. During the maturing process, the cheese slowly develops a firm yet creamy texture, whilst the exterior takes on a rustic appearance that immediately reveals this is no mass-produced product. Traditional maturing in hay gives cheeses a distinctive spicy and slightly floral aroma, a method that has been used for centuries in the production of artisanal Italian cheeses.
✅ Handcrafted in the Fortore region
✅ Matured amongst natural straw and fragrant hay
✅ Intense yet elegant spicy aromas
✅ A full-bodied, creamy flavour with a long finish
✅ Perfect for an authentic Italian cheese platter
✅ Exclusively selected by Kelvini Italian Artisan
Whilst many modern cheeses aim for a neutral flavour, Paglia e Fieno demonstrates just how important nature is to flavour.
The milk comes from animals that graze in the hilly countryside around Casalbore. A slow maturing process then begins, in which time is the most important ingredient. The straw and hay do not impart a dominant flavour, but give the cheese a gentle herbiness and an elegant aroma that you continue to discover as the cheese comes to room temperature.
Each note continues to develop as the wine is served. First you taste the creaminess of the milk, followed by notes of butter, dried herbs, hay and a subtle nutty complexity.
IIn the casalbore region, cheese is still made in the same way that grandparents taught their children. Not in a hurry, but with patience. Paglia e Fieno is the result of craftsmanship in which nature itself becomes part of the production process. The straw and hay protect the cheese during maturation and give it a character that is impossible to reproduce artificially.
For Kelvini Italian Artisan, this is exactly what authentic Italian food is all about: produce that represents its region, made by people who keep traditions alive and create flavours you won’t find anywhere else.
Some cheeses are delicious. Others transport you to another place for a moment.
With Paglia e Fieno, you can savour the scent of summer hayfields, the fresh mountain air of Casalbore and the patience of Italian cheesemakers who still believe that quality is the result of time, care and tradition.
That is precisely why Kelvini Italian Artisan is proud to bring you this special cheese.
| Weight | 350 Gram, 700 grams, 1,4 Kilo |
