All You Need to Know About Raw Milk Cheese
Cheese, a magical product that may have been discovered by mistake or pure luck, has been bringing joy to people for thousands of years. Made from just a few ingredients like milk, salt and rennet—the quality of the main ingredient, milk, can transform a good cheese into a great one. This is why raw milk cheeses are considered the best of the best!
Watch and Learn About Italian Raw Milk Cheese
Join the Foodie Sisters to discover more about Italian raw milk cheese and learn how to taste it like a pro with our very own certified cheese taster.
What is Raw Milk Cheese?
Raw milk cheese is crafted using unpasteurized, fresh milk. Before pasteurization, all cheeses were made with raw milk. However, in recent years, raw milk cheese has become less common, and in many countries, including the US, its production is restricted. By law, cheese in the US must be made with pasteurized milk or aged for at least 60 days before it can be sold. In contrast, countries like Italy and France allow the use of raw milk straight from the animal, resulting in a significant difference in flavor and texture.
Why is Raw Milk Cheese Superior?
Imagine a healthy animal feeding on wild grass, flowers, and plants. The milk from this animal is rich in healthy bacteria, flavor, good microbes, natural enzymes, calcium, minerals, and a variety of other beneficial components. Cheese made from this milk boasts a complexity of flavors and aromas, as well as a freshness that pasteurized milk cannot replicate.
Effects of Pasteurization on Cheese
While some bacteria in raw milk cheese die off during the initial steps of cheesemaking, the survivors contribute to the cheese’s unique flavor profile. This process creates an intricate array of aromas that are distinct to each cheese.
Pasteurization, on the other hand, destroys all the naturally present qualities in raw milk, including beneficial bacteria, natural flavor-producing enzymes, calcium, minerals, protein, flavor, and vitamins. The result is a “clean canvas” for the cheesemaker, allowing them to produce consistent batches of cheese. However, this consistency comes at the cost of the rich, diverse flavors found in raw milk cheese.
Experience Italian Raw Milk Cheese
If you love cheese, you cannot miss the opportunity to try Italian raw milk cheeses! Join our Italian Cheese & Wine Tasting in Rome, where you’ll embark on a journey across Italy’s finest raw milk craft cheeses paired with a selection of Italian wines. This unique experience will introduce you to some of the best raw milk cheeses and wines produced in Italy. Our wine sommelier and professional cheese taster will guide you through the tasting, teaching you everything you need to know about these amazing products.
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