Queso Estrella La Peral is the flagship product of Quesos La Peral and represents a milder interpretation of blue cheese from Asturias, designed to balance complexity with accessibility. It is made from pasteurized cow’s milk, often enriched with cream, which contributes to its notably smooth and creamy texture.
During maturation in controlled cellars, fine blue veins develop through the action of Penicillium cultures, but without the sharp intensity found in stronger blue cheeses. The texture is soft and increasingly spreadable as it matures, with a uniform and cohesive structure. On the palate, it offers a balanced profile, combining gentle sweetness, milky notes, and a subtle spiciness that develops gradually without dominating.
The aroma is clean and rounded, lacking the pungency typical of more assertive blue cheeses, which makes it approachable to a wider audience. It works well both as part of a cheese board and in culinary applications where a creamy consistency and moderate flavor are preferred, such as sauces or spreads.
As a long-standing product with a defined identity, Estrella La Peral reflects a consistent style rooted in local tradition while remaining accessible in character.
Producer
Quesos La Peral is a family-run dairy located in the village of La Peral in Illas, Asturias, with a history dating back to 1923 when Antonio León Álvarez began producing the original cheese. The business remains family-operated, maintaining a strong focus on artisanal methods and continuity of traditional techniques.
The dairy specializes in blue cheeses, with its flagship product, La Peral, considered one of the distinctive examples of this style in northern Spain. Production is based primarily on pasteurized cow’s milk, sometimes enriched with sheep’s cream, and involves the use of Penicillium cultures to develop the characteristic blue veining.
The cheese is aged for a minimum of two months in controlled cellars, allowing it to develop both texture and flavor gradually. In terms of profile, La Peral offers a softer and more accessible expression of blue cheese, combining creamy and buttery textures with mild sweetness and gentle spiciness. The flavor is balanced rather than aggressive, making it approachable while still retaining the complexity associated with blue-veined cheeses.
Its interior is smooth with evenly distributed veins, and the overall consistency tends toward soft and spreadable as it matures. Quesos La Peral has built a reputation as a reference producer of blue cheeses in Asturias, supported by recognition at international competitions such as the World Cheese Awards.
The dairy continues to emphasize quality of raw materials and controlled maturation, resulting in a product that reflects both local tradition and a consistent, well-defined style.