Grana Padano
Nutty, sweet, granular
Similar in style to its cousin, Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano has its own unique flavour and holds Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP) status, being produced across Northern Italy’s fertile Po Valley region.
Originally made by Italian monks in the 12th century, it is crafted from skimmed raw cow’s milk and must be aged for 9 months. This means it matures quickly compared to other hard cheeses and is naturally lower in fat.
Often compared to Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano is different in that it is slightly grainier (‘grana’ meaning just this in Italian), it is gentler on the palate, and although it can be incorporated into recipes, it is perfectly happy to be enjoyed on its own.
Futura Foods offers authentic Grana Padano wholesale supply, including aged Grana Padano for restaurants and grated Grana Padano foodservice options. This gives you the choice to grate over pasta, shave onto salads, or simply serve on its own as a delightful addition to a cheese board.
Available in:
Chilled
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Taste & Texture
Firm and granular, nutty and slightly sweet
Grana Padano delivers a delicious, nutty, slightly sweet, and yet intense flavour. It’s a pale-yellow colour with a firm, slightly crumbly texture that becomes more granular as it ages. Its versatility makes it perfect for grating over pasta dishes, stirring into risottos, or sprinkling over fresh salads.
Younger cheeses offer a more delicate taste with a milkier flavour and a lighter yellow colour. Older cheeses, aged 20 months and above, are known as ‘Riserva’ and boast a richer, more fragrant taste and a distinctive straw colour.
Futura Foods provides Grana Padano wholesale in a range of formats and maturities that your customers will love.
How it’s made
Time-honoured tradition in Northern Italy
Grana Padano is exclusively produced within its designated DOP area, which covers the whole of Northern Italy. Crafted from unpasteurised, partially skimmed cow’s milk, the cheesemaking process includes the use of lysozyme (derived from egg) as a preservative. It’s important to note that due to the use of animal rennet, Grana Padano is not suitable for vegetarians.
After production, each wheel is aged for a minimum of 9 months. However, to develop its richness, wheels are generally matured for 16 months and can sometimes be aged for as long as 34 months. Only once the wheels have successfully passed stringent quality tests are they fire-branded with the distinctive Grana Padano trademark, a symbol of their authenticity and excellence.
Nutritional Values
Suitable for Vegetarians.
Ingredients
Unpasteurised Cow’s MILK, Salt, Animal rennet, Preservative: Lysozyme from EGG
Allergens
Milk
Storage
Keep Refrigerated. Once opened use within 3 days and by date shown.
Nutritional values shown are for a typical Gran Padano, please contact us for full product specifications.
Typical Values
per 100g (as sold)
Did you know…?
‘Grana’ is Italian for grainy, referring to its texture, and Padano indicates the Po River Valley region where it is produced.
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