Parmigiano Reggiano
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Parmigiano Reggiano is made from milk, salt and rennet only, with no additives, and the Consortium says it takes about 550 litres of milk to make one wheel. It must age at least 12 months. At that point an inspector decides whether each wheel earns the fire-branded mark or is stripped of the name.
The price is the pleasant surprise. At Caseificio Ugolotti, a working dairy inside Parma's city limits, a 1 kg piece of 24-month cheese cost €22.90 on September 29, 2026. The catch is customs. The US lets you bring it home. The UK, since its rules on EU dairy tightened, does not.
At a glance
- What it is
- A DOP cheese made from milk, salt and rennet only, in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Mantua south of the Po and Bologna west of the Reno.
- Minimum age
- 12 months, the longest of any DOP cheese according to the Consortium. Most sold is 24 to 36 months.
- Price at a dairy
- Caseificio Ugolotti in Parma, 1 kg pieces, September 29, 2026: 12-month €19.90, 24-month €22.90, 36-month €25.90, 48-month €34.90.
- Buy the big piece
- Small pieces cost more per kilo. Ugolotti's 250 g of 12-month is €9, which works out at €36 per kg.
- Flying to the US
- Allowed. USDA lets travelers bring solid cheese that contains no meat. Declare it.
- Flying to the UK
- Not allowed. GOV.UK bans cheese and other dairy from the EU in personal luggage.
In this guide
What the DOP actually guarantees
DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) means the cheese was made and aged inside a defined zone to a written production rule. For Parmigiano Reggiano the zone is the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena, plus Mantua south of the Po and Bologna west of the Reno. Our guide to DOP and IGP labels explains the system.
- Ingredients: milk, salt, rennet. Nothing else. The Consortium says the rind is edible for that reason.
- The 12-month test: wheels that pass get an oval fire brand with the year of production. Those that fail lose the name.
- Pre-packed pieces must state the minimum age on the label, so you always know what you are buying.
Ages, taste and what a kilo costs
These are Caseificio Ugolotti's online shop prices for a 1 kg piece, read on September 29, 2026. The shop cuts by hand and allows a margin of plus or minus 8% on weight.
| Age | 1 kg piece | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months | €19.90 | The youngest legal cheese; softer, milkier |
| 18 months | €20.90 | Between young and classic |
| 24 months | €22.90 | Melted butter, milk and yogurt, a fruity finish; crumbly, first crystals |
| 30 months | €23.90 | Drier, more savory |
| 36 months | €25.90 | "Stravecchio": sharp, spicy notes of pepper and nutmeg, dry and granular |
| 48 months | €34.90 | For tasting in slivers, not grating |
The tasting notes for 24 and 36 months are the dairy's own. Our call: 24 or 30 months is the cheese to take home. Older is a novelty at a higher price, and the gap between 36 and 48 months is €9 a kilo.
Where to buy: the dairy, not the airport
Ugolotti's shop is at Via Emilio Lepido 72, about 5 km (3 miles) east of Piazza Garibaldi, an 8-minute drive. It opens Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and also on Sundays in December. City bus 23 stops nearby, according to the dairy. You can pair the purchase with a dairy visit at 9 a.m.
We could not find a centro storico deli that publishes a price list, so we give no city-shop figure. Compare in person, and ask for the age on the label. For vacuum packing and a side-by-side of shops, see our guide to buying Parmigiano and prosciutto.
Carrying it home: US yes, UK no
- United States: USDA's traveler page (updated January 13, 2026) allows "solid hard or soft cheeses" as long as the cheese does not contain meat or pour like a liquid. Parmigiano qualifies. CBP requires you to declare all food on arrival, and fines apply for undeclared items.
- Great Britain: GOV.UK says you cannot bring cheese, milk or other dairy from the EU into England, Scotland or Wales in personal luggage, because of animal disease outbreaks in the EU. There is no exception for vacuum-packed or branded cheese. Northern Ireland has separate rules.
The Consortium puts the shelf life of a vacuum-packed piece at generally 6 months, set by whoever packed it.
Where to eat it in Parma
Trattoria Ai Due Platani in Coloreto lists a portion of 24 to 27-month Parmigiano from the Ravarano dairy at €4 on its spring 2026 menu. Ristorante Cocchi serves 24 to 30-month cheese on its September 27, 2026 menu, which prints no prices. Both use it where it belongs: grated over anolini in brodo and tortelli di erbetta.
Tickets and tours you can book
Parma: Parmigiano Production and Parma Ham Tour & Tasting
Meets at the NH Parma hotel by the station (or Reggio Emilia AV). Late arrivals count as no-shows. No open-toed shoes; not wheelchair accessible.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
From Milk to Wheels: Parmesan Tour & Tasting in Parma
No transport: about 15 minutes by taxi; buses run only three times a day. Only the 9 a.m. slot shows the cheese being made.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Parma: Traditional Cheese Factory Visit with Tasting
Pickup 8:30 a.m. at the NH Parma hotel; the van leaves 10 minutes after. Late arrivals are non-refundable. No open-toed shoes.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Booking through these links supports this site at no cost to you. Prices move by date, so we do not print them here; the official prices we checked are in the page above.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Parmigiano Reggiano cost in Parma?
At Caseificio Ugolotti's shop on September 29, 2026, a 1 kg piece cost €19.90 (12 months), €22.90 (24 months) and €25.90 (36 months). Smaller pieces cost more per kilo.
Can I bring Parmigiano Reggiano to the US?
Yes. USDA allows solid cheese that contains no meat. Declare it to CBP when you land.
Can I bring Parmigiano Reggiano to the UK?
No. GOV.UK bans cheese and other dairy products from the EU in personal luggage into Great Britain, packaged or not.
What is the minimum age of Parmigiano Reggiano?
12 months. The Consortium says most cheese on sale is 24 to 36 months old.
Can you eat the rind?
Yes. The Consortium says the rind is edible because the cheese contains no additives and the rind gets no preserving treatment.
Further reading
Official sources
- Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano - FAQ (official) – Milk, salt and rennet only; 12-month minimum; fire-brand selection mark; label must show minimum age; edible rind; 6-month vacuum shelf life; checked September 29, 2026
- Consorzio Parmigiano Reggiano - The art of making (official) – About 550 litres of milk per wheel; 12 months the longest minimum among DOP cheeses
- Consorzio Parmigiano Reggiano - production zone (official homepage) – Zone: Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Mantua right of the Po, Bologna left of the Reno
- Caseificio Ugolotti - cheese shop (dairy's own site) – 1 kg prices by age, 250 g and 500 g variants, +/-8% cut tolerance, shop hours Mon-Sat 8-19:30 and December Sundays; tasting notes on the 24 and 36-month product pages; checked September 29, 2026
- USDA APHIS - Cheese, butter and milk for travelers (official) – Solid hard or soft cheese allowed if it contains no meat and does not pour like a liquid; page updated January 13, 2026
- US CBP - Bringing agricultural products into the US (official) – All food must be declared; civil penalties for undeclared items
- GOV.UK - Bringing food into Great Britain: meat, dairy, fish (official) – From the EU you cannot bring cheese, milk or dairy products into Great Britain; checked September 29, 2026
- Trattoria Ai Due Platani - menu, spring 2026 (PDF) – Parmigiano Reggiano 24/27 months, Ravarano, €4 portion
- Ristorante Cocchi - menu of September 27, 2026 (PDF) – Parmigiano Reggiano 24/30 months on the cheese course; no prices printed
