Description
Carne Arouquesa PDO is produced from the Arouquesa breed of cattle which are to be found in the Serre di Arouca area.
Production Area
Carne Arouquesa PDO is produced in the districts of Aveiro, Viseu, Porto and Vila Real.
Production Method
The cattle feed on the local vegetation of this rocky terrain and this is supplemented with the remains of the harvest.
Appearance and Flavour
Carne Arouquesa PDO is a moist meat and the veal is pale pink in colour, where as the beef from the older animal is dark red.
History
The Arouquesa breed of cattle was awarded prizes at the Great Exhibition in Paris in 1878. In Serre di Arouca these animals were used to draw the ploughs before the mechanisation of agriculture. At the beginning of the 20th century the beef from this cow was the most popular throughout Portugal. Carne Arouquesa PDO has been exported for the last one hundred years and is very popular in Britain.
Gastronomy
Carne Arouquesa PDO must be kept at a low temperature which should not exceed 7°C. It is never frozen unless this is done immediately, at source, at the time of butchering. Once bought, the meat can only be kept in the fridge for a few days. Carne Arouquesa PDO, being a moist meat and extremely succulent is particularly suited for grilling, especially on wood fires as in the case of posta or costeleta, or on the domestic grill as in the case of bife de Alvarenga. It is also used in assados em forno de padeiro, in estufados and cozidos à portuguesa always accompanied with the excellent vegetables grown in the region.
Marketing
This beef is sold as Carne Arouquesa PDO in four categories: Veal, from the male or female animal slaughtered between five and nine months of age and weighing between 70 kg and 135 kg; Novilho, from male or female animals slaughtered between nine months and two years of age and weighing between 135 kg and 230 kg; Vaca, from cows slaughtered between two and four years old weighing a minimum of 150 kg; Boi, castrated bulls slaughtered between two and five years old at a minimum weight of 150 kg. It is sold either whole or in prepacked cuts and joints clearly identified and labelled.
Distinctive Features
The Arouquesa breed of cattle is of medium size and varies between light and dark chestnut in colour. It is also an important breed for its milk and the production of butter, in addition to the production of Carne Arouquesa PDO.
