Is there a place in Southern Portugal where I can watch cheese being made?

Algarve production of chease is not as high as in the North of the country were pastures are by far more generous due to rainfall. In the Algarve they mainly produce goat chease and a extremely good one. I know one factory in the beautiful village of Castro Marim were the arabian heritage is still very strong and therefore affects the chease as well. You are lucky with the time of the year, now they are working full speed.

I'm not going there since some time so I gave them a fast ring:):) and I learned from a nice lady the factory can be visited but not during the production period, anyway in your shoes I would try to:). Nothing to loose!

You have to ring them first and make an appointment. Most of them do speak English.

Remember this factories aren't as big as the chease factories in the North of Portugal.

Goat chease(Chèvres in French) is a round small ripened cheese and not soft long one like the French.

I suggest you to go there by train from Albufeira till Vila Real de StºAntónio(Spanish boarder) and than by bus trought the mountain till Castro Marim, is close and the site is beautiful. The train is old fashion and quite cheap.

Phone, mail and adress of the Chease Factory

Azinhal

8950-035 AZINHAL CTM

Distrito: Faro

Concelho: Castro Marim

Freguesia: Azinhal

281495232

www.ovinosecaprinos.

The site:

http://www.lifecooler.com/edicoes/lifecooler/desen...

Train schedules site in English:

http://www.cp.pt/cp/displayPage.do?vgnextoid=87cbd...

Castro Marim Tourism office: (English search)

http://www.visitalgarve.pt/visitalgarve/vPT/GuiaSe...

Buses from Vila Real de StºAntónio to Castro Marim

EVA bus company (easy to search)

http://www.eva-bus.com/novo/

Boiled milk, upload rennet (they are curds). The curds are bumped off and salted and then heaped right into a wood hoop this is roofed with cheese textile. they are compressed for a undeniable quantity of time. tender cheese, like cheddar, does not take as long as extra good cheese.

Probably best waiting until you get there and ask at your hotel.