Carne Arouquesa

Carne Arouquesa is fresh beef produced exclusively from animals of the Arouquesa breed, entered in the Zootechnical Register, reared on natural pastures and uncultivated mountain land within a defined zone in northern Portugal. The designation covers packaged and refrigerated carcases or pieces from calves, bullocks, cows, and bulls of that breed.

About this designation

Carne Arouquesa holds PDO status, registered under file number PDO-PT-0235 with eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013245, with EU protection dating from 21 June 1996. The designation covers packaged and refrigerated carcases or pieces of calves, bullocks, cows, and bulls belonging exclusively to the Arouquesa breed. Eligibility requires that animals be entered in the Zootechnical Register and that their parents likewise appear in the Zootechnical Register of the Cattle Breed; no other breed qualifies under the specification. Rearing follows traditional methods on natural pastures and spontaneous shrubs on mountains and uncultivated land within the Arouca zone of northern Portugal. The specification states that the meat naturally reflects this type of feeding and rearing, establishing the link between the geographical area and the product's character. The applicant group at the time of registration was COOFAES – Cooperativa Agricola Cinfanense, based in Cinfães. The inspection and certification body named in the specification is Norte e Qualidade – Instituto de Certificação dos Produtos Agroalimentares, Rua de S. Catarina, 741, Porto. Labelling must carry the designation Carne Arouquesa together with the Denomination of Origin indication.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PDO on 21 June 1996 under file number PDO-PT-0235 (eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013245).
• Only animals of the Arouquesa breed entered in the Zootechnical Register, born of registered parents, qualify under the specification.
• The designation covers carcases or pieces from calves, bullocks, cows, and bulls — all categories of the Arouquesa breed.
• Certification was assigned to Norte e Qualidade – Instituto de Certificação dos Produtos Agroalimentares, Porto.

Tasting notes

Beira-Norte beef DOP from native Arouquesa breed (Aveiro-Viseu). Tender flavored meat.

HoReCa use

Carne Arouquesa is used in the regional cuisine of the Beira area of northern Portugal.

Packaging

• Same