This cheese is in many ways like this city. The heart of Caceres was one of the first Spanish entities to be granted world heritage status by the United Nations. The status is little more than that; it's like a stamp from the world saying - this is an important part of humanity, protect it. Caceres is protected because of its unique blend of Roman, Islamic, Gothic and Renaissance elements.
Queso Ibores is also protected by the Spanish Government. Many European countries try to protect their old food cultures - their wines and cheeses for example - through assigning them a privileged status.
The queso ibores has that chalky consistency of parmesan, it is in fact used grated. It tastes, however, like a hard, tangy manchego, with more of that animal taste coming through. Jane calls this the 'animal afterbite.' We give up on it after a few bites, and cross into Portugal.
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