When you see a whole manchego cheese:

- It will have a braided basket weave design around the outside, and its flat top and bottom will have lines dividing the surface into four equal parts.

- Natural color. Depending on how it has been aged, the cheese may be ivory to light brown in color. The rind may be coated with inactive transparent substance.

- The brand label must state that the cheese is made of 100% manchega ewe's milk. You might also see the world "manchego".

- Manchego cheese can only be made in the area covered by the Denomination of Origin which spans part of the Spanish provinces of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo.

- The Manchego Cheese Denomination of Origin Regulating Council's label with its logotype and serial number.

- On the back of the cheese will be the casein tab, where you can also see the term "Manchego".

When you see already-cut portions:

- Check a whole cheese of the brand you want to buy to make sure it has all the signs of a true manchego cheese.

- The inside of the cheese should be white to ivory in color, depending on how long it was aged.

- The paste, or interior of the cheese, must look all the same throughout. You may see a smooth surface, or there may be an uneven sprinkling of small holes.