The word Grana means "grainy" or "granular" because this is how the cheese looks when it is cut open. Grana Padano, an Italian cow's milk cheese would be easily recognized for another reason - the wheel is enormous, usually ranging from 70 to 88 pounds. Controlled by the Grana Padana Consorzio, Grana Padano is aged a minimum of 18-months. It carries a mark on the cheese. This is a special four leaf clover and indicates the province of origin. It is low in fat and very high in protein and calcium. |