Queso Panela, also called queso canasta or queso de la canasta (basket cheese), is a Mexican cottage cheese made from pasteurised and skimmed milk of cow. This white, fresh and smooth cheese is similar to Indian paneer and is gluten-free.

Panela cheese is a cheese that is not exposed to any maturing process, which makes it containing a higher percentage of water, and a lower amount of fat (less than 10% of its weight approximately). It is recommended for people who have hypertension, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol or diabetes.

In 1973, the de Cardenas family, new immigrants from Mexico saw the opportunity to create a product that was not yet available in the Los Angeles marketplace - queso fresco. They then founded the company and named it “Cacique”.

As is the case with many Mexican varieties of cheese, the exact origin of panela isn't entirely agreed upon. Some place its origin in the Balkan peninsula or the Mezzogiorno, where other rustic cheeses are moulded in baskets.

Cacique Panela is a mild, delectable, curd-style cheese, similar to Queso Fresco but less crumbly and a cross between firm ricotta and halloumi. Slice or crumble easily, Panela is best enjoyed while still moist and fresh or pan seared as a snack.

While both Panela and mozzarella are types of fresh cheese, they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Panela is known for its slightly crumbly texture and mild, milky flavor, whereas mozzarella is known for its smooth texture and slightly sweet, delicate flavor.

When researching the best cheeses to eat on weight loss programs, we did also find some of the unhealthiest cheeses to eat:

• Halloumi Cheese. Be aware of how much of this squeaky cheese you're adding to your morning bagel and salads!
• Goats/ Blue Cheese. 1 oz.
• Roquefort Cheese.
• Parmesan.
• Cheddar Cheese.

Production will move from the City of Industry site to a plant in Amarillo, Texas. Cacique's Mexican queso cheese. Credit: Cacique Facebook page. US-based Hispanic products supplier Cacique Foods has ended operations at its California dairy plant, with manufacturing to switch to another site in Texas.

Cacique ® is the #1 Brand of Hispanic Cheeses, Chorizos, and Cremas. For over 50 years Cacique ® has remained a family-owned company dedicated to producing the highest-quality authentic products.

unrefined whole cane sugar Panela (Spanish pronunciation: [paˈnela]) or rapadura (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁapaˈduɾɐ]) is an unrefined whole cane sugar, typical of Central and Latin America. It is a solid form of sucrose derived from the boiling and evaporation of sugarcane juice.

Panela is a hard, smooth, and salty cheese variety. It's made with skim milk, making it different from Queso Fresco in both texture and flexibility. Panela can't be crumbled, but it's very easy to cut into. Some people enjoy it fried as it doesn't melt!

Panela is a curd-style cheese that crumbles easily, but is less crumbly in texture than Queso Fresco. Panela does not melt, and is best used crumbled or sliced.

Panela is a smooth, white cheese that has roots in Central Mexico. This delectable cheese is mild in flavor but has a bit a tanginess to it. Panela is a curd-style cheese that crumbles easily, but is less crumbly in texture than Queso Fresco. Panela does not melt, and is best used crumbled or sliced.