Caseificio Carena

Carena today is a company where the heirs of a long family saga operate, now uniting four generations through the typical product of the Lodigiano area: the pannerone, the "flagship" of this dairy, now the only one left to produce it in the entire province. It is the subject of special studies and research by public bodies and scientific laboratories. A special derogation from the Lombardy Region and a national decree-law still allow its production and commercialization.

CARENA: A STORY OF SAFEGUARD

The Caseificio Carena started its activity in 1924, in the municipality of Caselle Lurani, thanks to the founder Angelo Carena producing typical cheeses of the Lodigiano area, such as pannerone, gorgonzola, and mascarpone.
The production and range of products offered increased over time, including taleggio, crescenza, fontal, primosale, caciotta, italico and ricotta. Over the years, the production plants have been renewed, adapting products and packaging to the modern health standards of the European Community and market needs, never forgetting the typical nature and quality of the cheeses, still processed with genuine artisanal methods, emphasizing the pannerone and mascarpone as unique products.

CARENA CHEESES: SYMBOL OF LODIGIANO

The pannerone is therefore the flag of the Lodigiano for Carena, as well as for all connoisseurs.
It is made with only raw milk and rennet. It stands out from the majority of Italian cheeses for not undergoing any salting treatment and for the high aging temperatures.
It has a cylindrical shape with flat faces, with a diameter of 25-30 cm and a height of 20 cm. The weight of aged wheels is between 10-13 kg. Externally, the pannerone has a yellowish crust, sometimes slightly pink, thin, and crumbly. Internally, the paste is straw-colored white with small holes that give it a typical veined appearance.
The cheese has a sweet and buttery flavor, with a slight hint of bitterness that pleasantly pairs with sweet flavors like honey, jam, mustard, and fruit, while it is suitable for preparing various risottos in the kitchen. Despite being a cheese characteristic of the autumn and winter period, our dairy produces pannerone all year round.
The pannerone is one of the cheeses waiting for European DOP recognition, and the municipality of Caselle Lurani established in 2016 the De.C.O. (Municipal Denomination of Origin) to underline the bond between Pannerone and the territory where it has been produced for almost a hundred years.