What is Poor Parmesan cheese?

Parmigiano-Reggiano, often shortened to "Parmesan," is a specific type of hard, granular cheese that is protected by a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin). This means that only cheese made in specific areas of Italy, using traditional methods, with specific milk and aging times, can be called "Parmigiano-Reggiano."

While you might find cheaper cheese labeled as "Parmesan," these are often imitations that don't meet the strict standards of the PDO.

Here's the difference:

* True Parmigiano-Reggiano:

* High-quality, complex flavor

* Made in specific areas of Italy

* Aged for at least 12 months

* Label must say "Parmigiano-Reggiano" or "Parmesan Reggiano"

* More expensive

* Imitation Parmesan:

* May be made with different milk, or use different processing techniques.

* Often aged less, resulting in a milder flavor.

* May be labelled as "Parmesan-style" or "Hard Cheese."

* More affordable

So, while you might find imitations, there's no such thing as "poor" Parmigiano-Reggiano. It's a cheese with a high standard of quality and production.