Randy Chandler
Cheese is made from milk curds – the solids that form when milk curdles or coagulates. Most of the cheese we encounter is made from the milk of cows, goats or sheep, but in other parts of the world, cheese is made from the milk of other animals, including reindeer, water buffalo, yaks, donkeys, horses, and camels.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Animal | Cow |
| Goat | |
| Sheep | |
| Water buffalo | |
| Yak | |
| Reindeer | |
| Donkey | |
| Horse | |
| Moose |
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What You'll Learn
Donkey cheese is the most expensive in the world
Most of the cheese we eat is made from the milk of cows, goats or sheep. However, in some parts of the world, cheese is made from the milk of other animals, such as water buffalo, yaks, reindeer, horses, and even donkeys. Donkey cheese, or pule, is considered the most expensive cheese in the world. It is made from the milk of Balkan donkeys and is produced at only one farm in the Zasavica Special Nature Reserve in Serbia. It is said to have a rich flavour and is considered a rare delicacy. Donkey cheese is also thought to have nutritional benefits, with some claiming that it boosts immunity. It is valued at about $1,000 per pound, or $1,320 per kilogram. The high price is due to the amount of donkey milk required to make the cheese – over 6 1/2 gallons of donkey's milk is needed to make 1 kilogram of cheese.
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Horse cheese is popular in Central Asia
Most of the cheese we encounter is made from the milk of cows, goats or sheep. However, in other parts of the world, cheese is made from the milk of other animals, such as water buffalo, reindeer, yaks, and even horses.
Horse cheese, or 'airag', is produced in Central Asia during foaling season when fresh mare's milk is mixed with the remains of the previous year's airag and gradually stirred outside a yurt for several days. It is primarily used by nomadic families and is considered a staple food within the steppes. It is eaten fresh or dried; the dried variety is popular among Mongolians, who soften it by soaking it in tea or warm water. Horse milk cheese is known as 'kurt' in Kazakhstan and is valued for its nutritional benefits and cultural significance.
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Water buffalo cheese includes Italian mozzarella di bufala
Water buffalo cheese is made from the milk of water buffalo, and includes Italian mozzarella di bufala, as well as Filipino kesong puti. Water buffalo cheese is also popular in other parts of the world, including India, China, Egypt, and Indonesia.
Surti paneer is a soft cheese associated with Surat in India, and is a type of paneer prepared from buffalo milk which is coagulated using rennet. In China, Nguri is a buffalo milk cheese of the Fujian province, prepared in a ball shape approximately the size of a table tennis ball, and has a soft, leathery texture.
In Egypt, Domiati is a soft, white, salty cheese made primarily in Egypt, but also in Sudan and other Middle Eastern countries. It is typically made from buffalo milk, but can also be made from cow's milk, or a mixture of the two.
In Indonesia, Dangke is a type of cheese produced in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, especially in Enrekang, Baraka, Anggeraja, and Alla districts. Dangke is processed by boiling fresh buffalo milk with sliced papaya leaves, stems, or unripe papaya fruits. It is then typically soaked in a brine solution overnight before being wrapped with banana leaves to mask the bitter taste caused by the addition of papaya leaves.
Water buffalo cheese is also made in Italy, where it is used to make burrata di bufala, a fresh Italian buffalo milk cheese prepared using the pasta filata method.
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Yak milk is the milk of choice in the Himalayas and parts of Central Asia
Most of the cheese we encounter is made from the milk of cows, goats or sheep. However, in the Himalayas and parts of Central Asia, the milk of choice is yak milk. Yaks are well-adapted to the extreme conditions of the Himalayas, including cold temperatures, low pressure, hypoxia, strong UV radiation, large temperature variations, and food scarcity. They are most widely found in Tibet and the western Chinese provinces of Qinghai, Yunnan and Sichuan, but they also live in India, Mongolia, Siberia, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and parts of Central Asia. Yak milk is rich in protein, calcium, and vitamin A, and contains less lactose than cow's milk, making it easier to digest. It is often made into cheese, yoghurt, and butter. Yak butter tea is a popular drink in the Himalayas, and the butter is also used to fuel butter lamps in Buddhist temples and monasteries throughout the region.
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Reindeer milk is used to make cheese in Scandinavia
Most of the cheese we encounter is made from the milk of cows, goats or sheep. However, in some parts of the world, cheese is made from the milk of other animals, such as water buffalo, yaks, camels, donkeys, horses and even reindeer.
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Frequently asked questions
Most cheeses are made from the milk of cows, goats or sheep.
Yes, cheese can be made from the milk of other animals, including reindeer, donkeys, water buffalo, yaks, horses, camels and moose.
Yes, there are now many vegan cheeses available that are made from cashews, soy or pumpkin seeds.
