Parmigiano Reggiano is an Italian cheese, and Italy’s most popular form of Parmesan cheese. It is designated as a PDO product (Protected designation of origin) by the European Union.
Parmigiano Reggiano was created in the 13th century in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy with cows milk from southern Germany or Switzerland mixed with cows milk from Parma and other parts of northern Italy during summer months when vegetation was low and cows grazed on pastures up in mountain areas such as Apennine range, along with some pork fat added to the mix.