Urbasa is a round, semi-hard cheese made with milk from Laxta and Carranzana sheep and similar to Aitzogorri. It has a smooth, dense, ivory white paste and a hard, pale yellow rind. It is made on farms in the Basque country. This cheese is made from them middle of July at is at its best from winter to summer. It contains 45% fat (dry). The curds are uncooked and pressed and matured in wooden moulds in natural caves. It is available made with vegetarian rennet in which form it is suitable for vegetarians. Dimenisions are 20 cm (8") in diameter and 8 to 12 cm (3-4½") in height. It weighs between 2.5 and 3 kg (5½ - 6 ½lbs). There is a smoked version which has a darker, almost orange rind. (DOC).
