Crotonese is a semi-firm, aged sheep milk cheese from Italy. The word "Crotonese" means "from Crotone", a small coastal city in southern Italy. The cheese is sometimes called Pecorino Crotonese.

Crotonese is softer, less flaky, and less salty than its more famous cousins. The rind is indented with wicker basket impressions. Like other Pecorinos, Crotonese has a sheepy taste, but is sweeter than many other varieties. Some have described it as citrusy, or reminiscent of sun-dried tomatoes. It has a slightly oily rind, from the natural oils found in sheeps milk.

We found several sites claiming that Crotonese is made in Sardinia and the Lazio region of Italy. Though this may be possible (we don't know for sure,) both these regions are far from Crotone.

Where to buy

Crotonese is harder to find than some other Pecorinos here in the U.S., but you may find some if you have a Whole Foods Market in your city. You can also find it online at amazon.com.