Tuma dla Paja
In Piedmont dialect, “tùma” (toma) is a generic word for cheese, as it represents one of the most common varieties in the mountains and valleys of the region.
San Lorenzo’s tuma is made from sheep’s milk, goat’s milk, cream, salt and rennet. It is made at very low temperatures, by adding liquid rennet to the milk straight from the animal. After the curd sets, it is placed in the moulds and left to age at room temperature, during the summer, in the paja (the local word for “paglia” - straw).
This special aging process gives the toma a hint of straw and hazelnut, and a wrinkled white rind which conceals a soft, creamy and fragrant cheese.
Even today, San Lorenzo’s tuma dla paja is produced according to traditional methods, and has unearthed a rare cheese that is all too often neglected.
The Territory: the Langhe, Piedmont
Famous for its fine wines, Barolo and Barbaresco to name two of the most famous, and its cheeses, the Langhe is a hilly region divided into three main areas:
- Upper Langa, including all the land above 600 m, used for grazing sheep and cultivating chestnut trees;
- Middle Langa, at an altitude of between 500-600 m, famous for its fruit production but especially the PGI Piedmont Hazelnut;
- the Lower Langa, which includes the valleys and lands stretching towards the Tanaro, known for its intensive cultivation of “DOC” wines (appelation controlée) including Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, and Dolcetto…
Dating back as far as the Romans, who built the first roads along the high mountain peaks, even today “andar per Langa” (walking through the Langa) is synonymous with the special feature of this region, whose roads run the length of the hills rather than crossing them.
Isolated for centuries and left unspoilt by tourism, the local food and wine has led to a rediscovery of this region, as well as its protection and development.
As you explore its twisting mountain roads, you will discover a huge number of castles, ranging from modest buildings to palatial noblemen’s residences, converted into council offices or still inhabited by the descendents of noble families.
Each year, many of them are open to the public during the spring: for more information.
[This product is not available for the English market as it needs to be delivered in 24 hours and that’s not sure outside the Italian borders]
