Carne Maronesa

Carne Maronesa is fresh beef produced from animals of the Maronesa breed, registered in the Genealogical Register of that breed, and raised within a defined area of northern Portugal. The designation covers carcasses or pieces, packaged and refrigerated, from calves or cows of the Maronesa breed. It was granted PDO protection by the European Union on 2 July 1996.

About this designation

Carne Maronesa holds PDO status, registered under file number PDO-PT-0223 with eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013233, with EU protection dating from 2 July 1996. The designation covers carcasses or pieces, packaged and refrigerated, derived exclusively from calves or cows of the Maronesa breed. Eligible animals must be entered in the Register of Births and must be the offspring of parents entered in the Genealogical Register of the Maronesa breed; no other breed is permitted under the specification. The animals are raised within a system of traditional agriculture in the defined geographical area of northern Portugal and consume by-products from the farms on which they are kept. The applicant group at the time of registration was the Cooperativa Agrícola de Vila Real C.R.L., based at Estação Fruteira de Abambres. The inspection structure named in the specification is the Associação dos Criadores do Maronês, with an address in Vila Real. Labelling must carry the designation Carne Maronesa and the indication of Denomination of Origin. The existence of the Associação dos Criadores do Maronês since 1981 is cited in the specification as evidence establishing the product's link to its geographical area through established use.

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

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PDO on 2 July 1996 under file number PDO-PT-0223 (eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013233).
• Only animals entered in the Register of Births, offspring of parents in the Genealogical Register of the Maronesa breed, are eligible.
• The specification permits no breed other than the Maronesa; the product covers carcasses or pieces, packaged and refrigerated.
• The inspection body named in the specification is the Associação dos Criadores do Maronês, located in Vila Real.

Tasting notes

Trás-os-Montes beef DOP from native Maronesa breed (Vila Real-Bragança). Distinctive long-horned breed, characteristic dark meat with intense beefy flavor.

HoReCa use

Carne Maronesa is associated with steakhouse preparation in Trás-os-Montes and is used in the Posta Maronesa preparation.

Packaging

• Same as other beef DOPs