Raw milk cheese – premium cheese from untreated, fresh milk
The cheese is made from fresh milkCheese milk is the milk intended for the production of cheese, also with the concomitant use of buttermilk products, cream products, sweet whey, sour whey and whey cream (whey cream) » More info, which was not treated at the beginning of the cheese making process (raw milk). It is almost as it comes from the cow’s udder.
When making raw milk cheeses, the milk is not pasteurized and heated to a maximum of 40 °C. This allows the naturally occurring microorganismsTo kill off any germs present in the milk, it is briefly heated and then immediately cooled again. » More info, which are so important for the flavoring and maturation of the cheese, to pass directly into the cheese dough. The cheese retains its naturalHere in Austria, we call our fresh, natural milk for our cheese production hay milk (hay mild standard) - in Germany it is different. » More info milk flora.
Certain cheeses must be made with raw milk, other cheeses can be made with either raw milk. Raw milk cheeses are mostly cheeses which are subject to special requirements as products of protected originProtection of origin or protection of origin are statutory regulations. » More info (for example mountainThe Vorarlberger Bergkäse (mountain cheese) is a regional cheese specialty from the Austrian province Vorarlberg. » More info cheeses).
Connection of raw milk and cheese taste
The untreated raw milk produces exceptional cheeses with a special taste. Many cheese connoisseurs put exactly this enjoyment advantage in raw milk cheese.
Due to the special production process, the raw milk cheese has an incomparable, mostly strong and intense taste. Furthermore, he remains very individual, because he also changed, depending on the season and maturity, again and again and again.
Quality of the milk and rapid processing
The basic requirement for a good raw milk cheese is milk of the highest qualityDetecting cheese defects and quality - on the cheese dough. Recognizing cheese defects requires some practice. » More info – such as the alpine milk of the many small farmers in the Bregenzerwald.
The quality begins with the balanced feeding and welfare.
In the summer, the Bregenzerwald farmers make sure that the animals look for food on the herbaceous and, above all, unfertilized pastures. In winter there is hay (silageHealthy hay milk comes from cows that are fed exclusively on fresh grassland feed, hay and grain. » More info is prohibited).
Raw milk cheese is produced in the Bregenzerwald directly on the alpine dairies (the dairy cow lives there, so to speak) or in very nearby alpine dairies, since the milk must be processedMelting cheese is a proven process to refine and make it more durable. » More info very fresh and therefore no longer transport routes are possible.
Milk for raw milk cheese is analyzed daily for its quality. In addition, regular checks are carried out on farmers to monitor animal health.
Only when all of these requirements are met will a dairy be allowed to produce raw milk cheese.
Raw milk cheese labeling
Raw milk cheese must be labeled as such.
This is done by the note “made with raw milk”. Other dairy products made from raw milk are also labeled. Pre-packaged cheese contains the raw milk reference in the labelCheese packaging must have certain markings. The purpose of these markings is to protect the consumer from deception and to announce the supply of certain information about the product. » More info on the packaging. For cheese at the cheese counter is the reference to the signs.