stories:
Nagging Question
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What Do Buffaloes Have to Do with Mozzarella?We’re talking water buffaloes, not bison |
What do buffaloes have to do with mozzarella?
The Dances with Wolves kind of buffaloes have nothing to do with it. What Americans call “buffaloes” are actually American bison and are members of a separate genus. True buffaloes, what we call the “water buffalo,” originated in south Asia and have been used as work animals in Italy since at least the Middle Ages, with farmers making cheese from their milk for centuries. Mozzarella was originally made from their milk and was widespread in southern Italy by the late 18th century. Most mozzarella is made from cow’s milk today, though water buffalo versions are still available. Anything called “buffalo mozzarella” is probably made from a combination of buffalo and cow milks, because the only requirement is that it contain some buffalo milk. However, if the label says Mozzarella di bufala campana (thanks to a European Union–granted Protected Designation of Origin), it must be made from 100 percent water buffalo milk and produced in the Campania region of Italy, which includes Naples and four surrounding provinces.
No offense, but I thought we all knew that.
Thanks, I just won a bet!!...but did ya know that in Vermont there is a herd of buffalo creating great cheese?
Wow, Sam, who pissed on your caprese?
Sorry, certainly didn't mean to be a jackass.
Even if you already knew that, it's a great link to sent someone when you're asked that question! Explaining is tiring.
The legal zone of mozzarella di bufala campana DOP actually includes a piece of southern Lazio.
>> but did ya know that in Vermont there is a herd of buffalo creating great cheese? <<
Cool! But how do they get their hooves to handle the cheese-making equipment?