The Story Behind the Box:
Two stars. Two Manchegos. One championship worth celebrating.

La Segunda Estrella, or “The Second Star,” celebrates Spain’s second men’s World Cup title, but this month’s inspiration goes beyond the field. We’re heading into the bars, cafés, and gathering places where food is part of the experience and sharing the table is part of the culture. At the center are two expressions of Spain’s most iconic cheese, joined by flavors from across the country and its Basque borderlands. It’s our own championship tour of Spain, built around good cheese, good food, and the simple pleasure of passing it all around the table.

***Helpful Cheese Notes- Please Read***

A note on the Tetilla: Don Juan Tetilla is a very young, high-moisture cheese, which means it has a shorter shelf life than the two Manchegos. Keep it refrigerated and tightly wrapped, and enjoy it within one week of opening—or by the best-by date printed on the cheese, whichever comes first.

Don’t be alarmed by the Manchego rind: Dehesa Semi Curado has a completely natural rind and is made without chemical coatings, preservatives, or additives. Some dry surface mold on that rind is a normal part of traditional aging. Simply trim away and discard the rind before serving. The paste inside should look and smell clean; if you notice mold extending onto the cut surface, unusual slime, or a distinctly unpleasant odor, please contact us before eating it.

Mind the pits:The Carmona Mix contains several Spanish olive cultivars, so their sizes, colors, and textures are intentionally different—from large, fleshy olives to smaller, darker varieties. That variation comes from the cultivar and stage of ripeness, not a difference in quality. Some contain pits, and pit fragments may also be present, so bite carefully.

Cheese Notes

Dehesa Manchego Semi Curado comes with an impressive pedigree. Produced on a centuries-old estate in La Mancha, it has a creamy, gently nutty character with touches of yogurt and sweetness. This particular cheese won its category at the 2020 World Championship Cheese Contest, while the estate’s Gran Reserva was crowned World Champion Cheese in 2012.

Romeral Rosemary Manchego gives the Spanish classic a more aromatic personality. A coating of rosemary brings woodsy, herbal notes to the naturally sweet and nutty sheep’s-milk cheese, a combination that feels especially connected to the dry, rugged landscape of Castilla-La Mancha. It also makes a great contrast to the more traditional Manchego in this month’s box.

Don Juan Tetilla DOP brings us to Galicia and an entirely different style of Spanish cheese. Mild, buttery, and lightly tangy, it’s known for its supple texture and famously distinctive shape. Even its name, which roughly translates to “little breast,” comes from the unusual form that has become inseparable from this Galician specialty.

Info Card (Click the image above to enlarge)

Spotify Playlist (Listen to this month's curated playlist)