# Manchego Black cheese, why so expensive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2014, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810 "2014-11-28T05:57:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/1 "2014-11-28T05:57:49Z")
This cheese is far and away the most expensive deli item at my local big grocery chain, I’ve done the math and a razor thin slice would be more then 1 USD. I haven’t bothered to try it yet because I would feel kinda silly asking for 5 thin slices please.😃 Other famously expensive cheeses can’t even get close to touching this stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/2 "2014-11-28T07:51:32Z")
Your OP is hopelessly vague so perhaps you could provide a little more information such as: [ul] [li]What is the price that the cheese is being offered?[/li][li]What type of manchego is it (semi-curado, curado, or viejo)?[/li][li]What other cheeses are sold at your local grocery chain (e.g., is the manchego the only name recognized foreign cheese)?[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/3 "2014-11-28T11:56:46Z")
The price is by weight and like I said seeing some it comes out to about 1 USD for a very thin slice. Unknown what type it is, either I did not notice it on the label or I didn’t read it close enough. It is sold as “Manchego Black” by the store. They also sell cheeses such as brie, swiss, feta, blue cheese, etc. None of these are sold by brand name just type, and while they are also pricey they are much more reasonable for instance you get a slice of brie off a wheel for the same price as a few slices of manchego. This isn’t s specialty gourmet store either you’d expect to carry pricey cheeses. Is manchego worth trying? ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/4 "2014-11-28T12:31:58Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Is manchego worth trying? I can answer this. Yes. Manchego is not not only one of the best cheeses, it’s one of the best things. ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/5 "2014-11-28T19:28:27Z")
In Eastern Washington, Manchego curado typically sells for about $18-$20 per pound and the viejo, when available, sells for about $25-$27 per pound. Personally, I don’t find the Manchego curado to be all that great. Among Spanish cheeses, I prefer aged Mahon, Garrotxa, or Cabrales (blue cheese). How does the price of the Mahon that you can get compare to the prices that I have listed above? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/6 "2014-11-28T19:53:10Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > Manchego… Among Spanish cheeses, I prefer aged Mahon, Garrotxa, or Cabrales (blue cheese). They’re all from the same country, but otherwise you’re comparing baby back ribs with turkey legs. Manchego is sheep, Mahón is cow, Garrotxa is goat and Cabrales can be any of the above or a mixture. ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/7 "2014-11-29T05:31:52Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > They’re all from the same country, but otherwise you’re comparing baby back ribs with turkey legs. Manchego is sheep, Mahón is cow, Garrotxa is goat and Cabrales can be any of the above or a mixture. So what - I never made any statements regarding the sources of the various cheeses and I don’t know what that has to do with comparing the likes and dislikes of anything. The OP doesn’t ask which is the best cow, sheep or goat cheese and I have no idea why you think that is a basis for refuting my response. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/8 "2014-11-29T05:38:27Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > They’re all from the same country, but otherwise you’re comparing baby back ribs with turkey legs. Among barbequed meats, I prefer baby back ribs over turkey legs. Yep. Works just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/9 "2014-11-29T11:11:26Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > So what - I never made any statements regarding the sources of the various cheeses and I don’t know what that has to do with comparing the likes and dislikes of anything. The OP doesn’t ask which is the best cow, sheep or goat cheese and I have no idea why you think that is a basis for refuting my response. 😕 I believe that her point is that, other than coming from the same country, those cheeses share nothing in common. Your statement is like saying, “Oh you’re considering some Nike tennis shoes? Personally, I prefer some nice stiletto heels or a pair of slippers.” Other than being shoes, there’s no real relationship. Someone interested in a pair of tennis shoes might be interested in other brands of tennis shoes, but bringing up the existence of stilettos is arbitrary. ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/10 "2014-11-30T04:15:03Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I believe that her point is that, other than coming from the same country, those cheeses share nothing in common. Your statement is like saying, “Oh you’re considering some Nike tennis shoes? Personally, I prefer some nice stiletto heels or a pair of slippers.” Other than being shoes, there’s no real relationship. Someone interested in a pair of tennis shoes might be interested in other brands of tennis shoes, but bringing up the existence of stilettos is arbitrary. I never said anything qualifying or otherwise limiting my statement regarding Spanish cheeses. Nowhere else in this thread is there any mention of the type of the milk used in making the various cheeses. I, therefore, feel that her calling out my preferences was not justified in the context of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/11 "2014-11-30T04:24:33Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I believe that her point is that, other than coming from the same country, those cheeses share nothing in common. Your statement is like saying, “Oh you’re considering some Nike tennis shoes? Personally, I prefer some nice stiletto heels or a pair of slippers.” Other than being shoes, there’s no real relationship. Someone interested in a pair of tennis shoes might be interested in other brands of tennis shoes, but bringing up the existence of stilettos is arbitrary. Right, but when talking about a French wine, someone might bring up three different French wines they like better, even if they are different grapes. Seems legit to me. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/12 "2014-11-30T07:30:31Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > I never said anything qualifying or otherwise limiting my statement regarding Spanish cheeses. Nowhere else in this thread is there any mention of the type of the milk used in making the various cheeses. I, therefore, feel that her calling out my preferences was not justified in the context of the thread. And you would be correct. Unfortunately you set off the Spain alarm so it was bound to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manchego-black-cheese-why-so-expensive/705810/13 "2014-11-30T10:03:04Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > And you would be correct. Unfortunately you set off the Spain alarm so it was bound to happen. No one ever expects the Spanish Inquisition.