Provolone originally comes from the south of Italy but is nowadays produced in several regions of North Italy and no kitchen is likely to be without it. The cheese is sold in various shapes, melon-or pear-shaped, salami-shaped, bottle shaped or a truncated cone. The weight may vary per shape. BelGioioso imports Extra Sharp Provolone from Italy in large salami-shaped cheeses.

The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk that is cooked and shaped and salted in brine and hung up to dry. Some cheeses are sold as young as two months, but six months or more is a more usual maturation period. This Provolone is aged for 12 months and has a sharp, distinct flavor that you may be looking for.

Provolone is one of the great Italian gourmet cheeses that goes well in almost any dish that requires cheese.