Caprino (Marche)

Caprino Marchigiano is a traditional goat’s cheese produced in the Italian region of Marche, mainly in the provinces of Pesaro and Urbino. Made with raw milk, this dry-salted cheese is available in short, medium, or long-aged version, with paste ranging from semi-hard to hard.

Over time, it can develop a rather spicy flavor, which makes it a great addition to salads, pasta dishes, and even sweets. The region of Marche is also renowned for one very special variety of caprino cheese, called caprino al lattice di fico, made with raw goat’s milk that is simply stirred with a freshly cut fig tree branch.

The milky juice that comes from the branch curdles the milk, creating a cheese with a savory, slightly spicy flavor - although this procedure might seem simple, it takes a great deal of experience, because if the branch is left in the milk for a moment too long, the cheese develops a bitter, unpleasant taste.