Best Canton of Graubünden Semi-hard Cheese Types
Formaggella is a semi-hard, medium-sized cheese produced from goat's milk, cow's milk, or a mixture of both, with a texture that can range from fresh soft to semi-hard, depending on the production method and aging process. The name derives from formaggio (lit. cheese), with the diminutive "-ella" suggesting a traditionally lower status compared to long-aged alpine cheeses.
A Swiss-Italian expression about strabismus (cross-eyed people) references "an eye that looks at the board of formaggella," referring to the wooden boards in kitchens where the cheese was stored to dry and kept safe from mice. Formaggella has a cylindrical shape, with a diameter of 10-20 cm, a height of 3-5 cm, and a weight of 400g to 2kg.
Bündner bergkäse (Bündner Mountain Cheese) is a semi-hard, full-fat cheese made from thermized mountain milk. Each wheel weighs around 4.5 kg, with a 27 cm diameter, and has a firm texture with very few holes. Produced year-round in village cheese dairies above 600 meters in altitude, it differs from Bündner Alpkäse, which is made seasonally in high-altitude alpine pastures.
The cheese is crafted using thermized milk, briefly heated to 68°C to remove harmful bacteria while preserving part of the milk’s natural flora for flavor. The milk is then curdled with rennet, cut into small curds, and heated to 41-47°C to remove excess moisture.
Bündner Alpkäse is a semi-hard, full-fat cheese, made exclusively from raw cow’s milk in alpine dairies during the summer months. Under the Swiss Mountain and Alpine Ordinance, it must be produced in high-altitude pastures, where cows graze freely on rich alpine vegetation.
A wheel weighs between 4 to 6 kg, with a firm texture and small holes, and it is available in mild (2-3 months), spicy, and tangy (6+ months) varieties. The cheese is made by mixing evening milk (partially skimmed) and fresh morning milk, ensuring a minimum fat content of 45% in dry matter.
Best Canton of Graubünden Semi-hard Cheese Producers
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2022, 2021
BEST Molkerei Davos Cheeses
Best Canton of Graubünden Semi-hard Cheeses
Bündner Steinbock rezent is a specialty cheese produced by Molkerei Davos, a dairy company based in Davos, Switzerland. Bündner Steinbock Rezen is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk. This cheese is known for its robust flavor and firm texture.
It is crafted using traditional methods that highlight the quality of the milk sourced from the alpine regions. The cheese is typically aged to enhance its strong, distinct taste, making it a popular choice for those who enjoy bold-flavored cheeses.
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2021
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