The "Minstrel Tells You" The History of Parmigiano Reggiano, from its origins to today...

👑 Listen, lovers of excellence, to the tale of a thousand-year-old myth: the Sublime History of Parmigiano Reggiano! 👑

Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to take you through the centuries, on a journey steeped in art, passion, and unparalleled flavor, which has given birth to what is rightly called the "King of Cheeses."

🏰 Dawn in the Middle Ages: Monks and Ingenuity

The history of Parmigiano Reggiano has its roots in the Early Middle Ages, around the 12th century, in the fertile lands between Parma and Reggio Emilia. It wasn't the whim of a king, but the wisdom of Benedictine and Cistercian monks that gave birth to this marvel.
Necessity and Invention: The monks, with their vocation for land reclamation and livestock farming, found themselves with a surplus of cow's milk. Their mission? To create a cheese that would last a long time, withstand travel, and nourish them throughout the year.
The Secret of the Territory: At their abbeys, like that of San Giovanni in Parma, they used milk from cows fed on fodder from the pure waters of the area. Thus, the first "caselli" (dairies) were established, where the milk was processed with ancient wisdom, without additives, in a natural process that has remained almost unchanged.
Birth of "Grana": The result was a hard, grainy cheese (hence the initial name "grana"), with a surprising ability to mature: the older it got, the better it became.

🌟 The Renaissance and Celebrity

In the following centuries, the fame of this cheese crossed local borders, becoming a symbol of luxury and wealth:
Boccaccio's Homage: In the 14th century, the immortal Giovanni Boccaccio mentions it in his Decameron, describing the legendary land of Bengodi, where:
"there was a mountain made entirely of grated Parmesan cheese, on which stood people who did nothing but make macaroni and ravioli and cook them in capon broth, and then they threw them down, and whoever caught the most, had the most."
A literary testimony that consecrated its image as a heavenly delight.
Court Treasure: It became a product of choice on the tables of noble courts, from those of the Este family to those of the Pope, appreciated for its long shelf life and intense flavour.

🛡️ The 20th Century and the Protection of the Name

With the advent of industry and its worldwide diffusion, it became necessary to protect this invaluable heritage:
Birth of the Consortium: At the beginning of the 20th century, to protect the original cheese from imitations and confusion (at the time it was referred to as "Parmigiano" and "Reggiano"), the producers united.
The Sacred Investiture of the PDO: The culmination of this battle for quality and authenticity came in 1996, with the recognition of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). This sacred seal establishes that only cheese produced according to the strict specifications and within the defined area (Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, parts of Mantua, and Bologna) can bear the Parmigiano Reggiano brand.

Parmigiano Reggiano Today: A Living Masterpiece

Today, Parmigiano Reggiano DOP is more than just a cheese: it is the culmination of a thousand years of history, tradition, and an unbreakable bond with its territory.
Unmistakable Identity: From the dotted marking that adorns the rind, to the unmistakable "grain" rich in tyrosine crystals, each wheel contains the same purity as the beginning: milk, rennet and salt, without any additives.
Global Excellence: Loved and imitated around the world, it has retained its artisanal essence. Its supply chain, from forage to the final threshing, is a model of quality and traceability.
Parmigiano Reggiano isn't just nourishment; it's a piece of Italy that melts in your mouth, a miracle of simplicity and durability, a timeless excellence.
I hope you enjoyed this historical journey, dear user.