Cheese! Welcome to Fuerteventura and the Museum de Queso

It is not possible to talk about Fuerteventura without discussing the goat cheese! It is like no other goat cheese you have ever tasted and even has the seal of origin meaning it was made here with traditional process and can only be made within the Canary Islands. A lot of the goats are allowed to roam free within Fuerteventura and get a good life enjoying all the pasture they can find on this sparse island. This also adds to the taste and flavors of the cheeses that are made here. The natives of Fuerteventura are called the Majorero pronounced Ma-ho-rrerro and the cheese from this island gets call Majorero Queso, the word Queso is Cheese in Spanish.

There are three different methods the cheese is processed, you can get fresh cheese known as Queso Tierno and this is a soft cheese that would be the closest to any other goat cheese I had tried before but definitely different and a firmer texture, perfect for a tomato and cheese bocadillo, a Spanish roll/sandwich. I also find this goes really well with honey.

There is cheese semi cured known as Semicurado as this is a pale white in coloured cheese with a creamy nutty favor made normally from unpasteurized goats milk it has a hard buttery texture. The rind is often coated with Pimenta known as ground Paprika in English or Gofio a toasted ground grain or bean local to the Canary Island or sometimes coated with oil or smoked. This tastes great paired with wine.

The third cheese local to Fuerteventura is a hard cured cheese known as Curado. It is a hard cheese with a similar texture to Parmesan cheese and can be eaten on its own or accompany a meal.

All these cheeses are made in different flavors with different rind and herbs added and from different farmer so you have to try them all. Have a taste of a few different types to really get to know these cheeses and to find your favorite.

The best place on the island to go and read about the cheese process and Fuerteventura is the Queso Museum in Antigua. The museum is a great way to see the processing of the cheese both today and the traditional ways it has been made of years. It’s also sells different cheeses so always opportunity’s to take some home. Antigua is the middle of the island so easy to get to where ever you are staying on the beautiful island of Fuerteventura. The Museum has a beautiful Cactus garden and also has information about the history of Fuerteventura. Once a year it is also home to a big artisan fair where people from all the islands of the Canaries come to showcase there hand made items and food, definitely worth a visit. It also has a very nice little café and patio-seating area if you need a refreshment while you visit. To find out more visit their website museoquesomajorero.es

The different goats cheeses are all sold at different markets but some of the best is the small produce market on Saturdays above the bus station in the capital of Fuerteventura Puerto Del Rosario, the markets open from 9-2 Saturday morning like any produce market the early bird gets the best.

If you are not a goat cheese lover I still think you should try some it truly is a different flavor than any goat cheese I had ever tasted before. Maybe start with the pimiento semi curd and work your way around them from there.

In a restaurant it is common to be served the local cheeses with a cranberry or blueberry jam, sometimes the cheese comes breaded and deep fried or sometimes just sliced with tomatoes or lightly grilled, they’re all are delicious. One of the most idyllic places to try is Casa de la Naturaleza in Vega de la Rio Palma, Fuerteventura it‘s open Tuesday to Sunday 10am – 5pm. The restaurant makes its own jam and has the most beautiful setting and seating areas as well as some of the local traditional cheeses of Fuerteventura. Casa Maria in Betancuria also has a fantastic selection of cheeses and traditional Canarian menu.

One of my personal favorite ways I like to enjoy the fresh cheese is to slice it very thin and grill the local zucchini or calabacin as it is known in Spanish with a drizzle of local Canarian palm honey. Pick up fresh bread from one of the many delicious Fuerteventura bakeries or panaderia is the Spanish name for a bakery and make your own or ask at a café and they might just make a version of this for you.

Have an amazing time trying all these cheeses and visiting the museum!

Comment down below, which cheese you would fly back to Fuerteventura just to eat? Thank you for reading!