This hard, dry cheese is made from cow's milk for semi-skimmed or skimmed. Has a hard rind, pale gold and an interior of straw-coloured with a rich flavor, sharp. Parmesan cheeses are in Argentina, Australia and United States, but no one compares with pre-eminent Italy's Parmigiano-Reggiano, with its grainy texture that melts in your mouth. Whereas the u. s. age 14 months, processed Parmesan Reggianos are most often at the age of 2 years. Those labelled stravecchio have aged 3 years, while the stravecchiones are 4 years. Their flavor and texture extremely granular complex are the result of long ageing. The words of Parmigiano-Reggiano rind stamped on mean that the cheese was produced in Bologna, Mantua, Modena and Parma (from which originates the name of this cheese). Parmesans are primarily used for rubbing and in Italy are called grana, which means "grain" and referring to their granular texture. Pregrated Parmesan cheese is available but does not compare with freshly grated. Domestic and imported Parmesans are available in specialty cheese shops, Italian markets and many supermarkets. See also cheese.