Cheese is often something you love or you hate, and so for those who can’t stand the stuff, avert your eyes now, as this is definitely for the nibbling mice out there. From December 12 to 14, the picturesque Paseíllo on Calle Real will once again become a fragrant paradise for food lovers as the town hosts the eleventh edition of the Feria del Queso ‘Popi’ Sabor a Malaga.
Organised by Estepona Town Hall in partnership with celebrated professional ham cutter José María Téllez, better known as ‘Popi’, and supported wholeheartedly by the Diputación de Malaga through its prestigious ‘Sabor a Malaga’ brand, the fair has become one of the Costa del Sol’s favourite gastronomic events.
Bustling cheesy market bringing the taste of Malaga
Open daily from 12pm to 10pm, the three-day festival offers free entry and turns the pedestrian heart of Estepona into a bustling open-air market. More than thirty producers (80 per cent of them from the province of Malaga itself) will showcase an extraordinary range of artisan cheeses and dairy products, from silky fresh goat’s milk rounds and tangy cured Payoyo to rich, aged cow’s milk wheels that rival the finest Manchegos. It might look cheap, but it’s no bargain, with a “ración” of sliced cheese usually selling at €5 a dish. However, choose with a discerning eye, and you just might find some real treats you had never tried before. Take advantage of every free sample put on offer, because there are some amazing cheeses, especially from Malaga villages, that are well worth your time and palate.
Yet cheese, glorious as it is, is only the star attraction. Stalls will overflow with complementary gourmet treasures: extra-virgin olive oils, marinated olives and pickles, silky pâtés, crunchy nuts and carefully selected regional wines, making the fair a complete gourmet market for the palate under the wintery Andalusian sun. Many attendees treat the fair as the perfect opportunity to stock up on luxurious, locally sourced Christmas gifts or to assemble impressive holiday cheese boards. In most cases, buying by the gram works out far more reasonably than the selections put on offer. So, find your cheese, and ask for their best price.
Since its modest beginnings, the Popi Cheese Fair has grown into a powerful platform for the ‘Sabor a Malaga’ seal, reinforcing the province’s reputation for outstanding produce while giving Estepona valuable international visibility.
Whether you’re a dedicated cheese fan or simply looking for a joyful, cheesy day out in the run-up to Christmas, the 11th Feria del Queso Popi promises delicious discoveries, warm Andalusian hospitality and the chance to take home a little piece of Malaga’s culinary soul.