Issue date: 26 Sep, 2019
CUISINE: PROTECTED DESIGNATIONS OF ORIGIN OF CANTABRIA
One of the main aims of stamps is to celebrate the attractions of the issuer country.
The series Cuisine: Protected Designations of Origin is intended to publicise Spanish food and drink with this recognition.
This year the stamp celebrates two of Cantabria’s best known culinary products: honey from Liébana and Picón Bejes-Tresviso cheese.
This honey comes from a large protection area which includes all the municipalities of the Liébana district: Cabezón de Liébana, Camaleño, Cillorigo de Liébana, Pesaguero, Potes, Tresviso and Vega de Liébana. There are two types: single flower heather honey and honeydew honey.
Heather honey is amber in colour with brown and reddish tones, a floral scent and medium intensity. It has a slightly bitter flavour with a noticeable hint of salt. Honeydew honey is very dark amber with a slightly woody flavour and a better consistency, although both kinds are equally sweet and tasty.
The stamp, framed in a mini sheet evoking the landscape of Cantabria, shows the shine and golden transparency of honey, made even more realistic by applying varnish.
The stamp completing the mini sheet depicts Picón Bejes-Tresviso cheese.
This cheese is produced in the municipalities of the Liébana district and the Town Council of Peñarrubia.
It is made with whole raw cow’s, sheep’s or goat’s cheese. Sometimes two or even three types of milk are combined.
The area has many natural limestone caves where the cheeses are left to mature for at least two months.
Picón Bejes-Tresviso cheese is white with greenish blue veins and slightly spicy in flavour, with a smooth, soft consistency.
Rate A - €0.75. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, up to 20 g.
Rate A2 - €0.85. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, between 20 g and 50 g.
Rate B - €1.65. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to Europe (including Greenland), up to 20 g.
Rate C - €1.75. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the rest of the world (except USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand), up to 20 g.
Rate D - €2.10. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, up to 20 g.