Traditional cow herder driving home the cows. Bauer beim Heimtrieb der Kühe
Traditionally, cow herders bring their cows from the Alps into Allgäu each fall in mid-September.[1][2] September 18 typically "marks the official start of the Almabtrieb, or descent, a day celebrated with a festival ...."[2] Hirtenkäse is made from the milk from these cows.[1][2] It is usually aged eight months.[2]
This cheese is "golden"[2] and "Buttery yellow in color...."
Allgäu apotheke (Allgäu Pharmacy)
Its texture and taste are "rustic, savory and firm textured... with a rugged, earthy aroma."
It has been compared to other hard cheeses of Europe:
In texture and flavor, the 14-pound cheese resembles a cross between Parmigiano-Reggiano and aged Gouda, with a firm golden interior and aromas of butterscotch and orange peel. ... Even at eight months, the cheese has developed some of the crunchy protein crystals found in Parmigiano-Reggiano. But additional aging makes the cheese creamier, not harder and dryer. It has a waxy texture - it even smells waxy - but it isn't crumbly like Parmigiano-Reggiano or firm enough to grate. The flavor is concentrated, with the cooked-milk sweetness of a caramel.
Hirtenkäse's nutty, earthy flavors can be complemented or contrasted.
A reviewer at the San Francisco Chronicle prefers complementing the cheese, writing, "I want a nutty, slightly sweet wine with it, such as an oloroso sherry or a Madeira."[2]
iGourmet suggests contrasting the cheese:
Hirtenkase [sic] is wonderful with German whole grain breads, fresh and dried fruits, like apples and figs. Excellent also when coarsely grated over roasted potatoes, mixed into hot pasta with chucks of ripe tomatoes, shaved over a crisp salad. Enjoy Hritenkase [sic] with a glass of wheat beer like a Hefeweizen, or a full bodied red wine.
^ abcFond o'Foods website 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed March 17, 2009.
^ abcdefghJanet Fletcher, "Cheese Course: Hirtenkäse fans party when the cows come home," San Francisco Chronicle, February SF Gate website. Accessed March 17, 2009.
hirtenkäse, herder, cheese, distinctive, milk, cheese, made, allgäu, area, southern, germany, other, namesherder, cheesecountry, origingermanyregionallgäusource, milkcowspasteurizednotexturehard, cheeseaging, timevaries, usually, months, traditional, herder, d. Hirtenkase or herder s cheese is a distinctive cow s milk cheese made in the Allgau area of Southern Germany 1 2 HirtenkaseOther namesHerder s cheeseCountry of originGermanyRegionAllgauSource of milkCowsPasteurizedNoTextureHard cheeseAging timevaries usually 8 months Traditional cow herder driving home the cows Bauer beim Heimtrieb der KuheTraditionally cow herders bring their cows from the Alps into Allgau each fall in mid September 1 2 September 18 typically marks the official start of the Almabtrieb or descent a day celebrated with a festival 2 Hirtenkase is made from the milk from these cows 1 2 It is usually aged eight months 2 Contents 1 Color texture and taste 2 Wine and fruit pairings 3 See also 4 ReferencesColor texture and taste editThis cheese is golden 2 and Buttery yellow in color nbsp Allgau apotheke Allgau Pharmacy Its texture and taste are rustic savory and firm textured with a rugged earthy aroma It has been compared to other hard cheeses of Europe In texture and flavor the 14 pound cheese resembles a cross between Parmigiano Reggiano and aged Gouda with a firm golden interior and aromas of butterscotch and orange peel Even at eight months the cheese has developed some of the crunchy protein crystals found in Parmigiano Reggiano But additional aging makes the cheese creamier not harder and dryer It has a waxy texture it even smells waxy but it isn t crumbly like Parmigiano Reggiano or firm enough to grate The flavor is concentrated with the cooked milk sweetness of a caramel Janet Fletcher San Francisco Chronicle 2 Wine and fruit pairings editMain article Wine and food matching Hirtenkase s nutty earthy flavors can be complemented or contrasted A reviewer at the San Francisco Chronicle prefers complementing the cheese writing I want a nutty slightly sweet wine with it such as an oloroso sherry or a Madeira 2 iGourmet suggests contrasting the cheese Hirtenkase sic is wonderful with German whole grain breads fresh and dried fruits like apples and figs Excellent also when coarsely grated over roasted potatoes mixed into hot pasta with chucks of ripe tomatoes shaved over a crisp salad Enjoy Hritenkase sic with a glass of wheat beer like a Hefeweizen or a full bodied red wine iGourmet 3 Like the bacon and chicken liver rumaki this cheese can be combined with other foods in interesting ways to mix salty and savory flavors See also edit nbsp Food portal nbsp Germany portalGerman cuisine List of German cheeses List of cheesesReferences edit a b c Fond o Foods website Archived 2011 07 11 at the Wayback Machine Accessed March 17 2009 a b c d e f g h Janet Fletcher Cheese Course Hirtenkase fans party when the cows come home San Francisco Chronicle February SF Gate website Accessed March 17 2009 iGourmet website Accessed March 17 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hirtenkase amp oldid 1144702130, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
