Adopting-an-Alp…Käse
/Hello Fellow Cheese Travelers!
Photo courtesy of Swiss or Miss
Sometimes food (especially cheese), has a way of transporting you…to another place, another time, or another culture.
Browsing through my local retailers cheese cases can sometimes be a “treasure hunt”…What is new?...What haven’t I seen in a long time?...What is seasonal?
Ahhh….What is “seasonal” you ask? Well, if you look through some of my social media feeds, you will see dozens of photos of “Alpabzug” (also known as Transhumance) – A celebration of the cows returning home after their Summer in the high alpine pastures of Switzerland (see top right).
The sights of cows being paraded through town is only part of the fun…It’s the cheese that was produced from this Alpine Milk that really makes some spectacular cheeses.
That’s what came to mind as I spotted Glarner Alpkäse AOP…So what’s so special about this cheese?
1. It is a Switzerland AOP cheese - one of 12 protected cheeses coming from Switzerland. While AOP cheeses like Emmentaler and Le Gruyere might be easy to find in America, Glarner Alpkäse AOP is not.
2. It is an “Alpage” cheese. While Glarner Alpkäse AOP is a protected AOP Summer cheese that is produced in Glarus, Switzerland between May 1stand September 30th.
3. This cheese was produced by Alp Heuboden. Produced by Peter & Annelies Tschudi-Lenzlinger high above Ennenda and Ennetberge – 6,000 feet above sea level. They bring their 60 dairy cows to this remote location…So high, that supplies are brought in weekly via helicopter!
Image courtesy of Adopt-an-Alp
You can see that these high-altitude meadows have an abundance of grasses, herbs and flowers – These all greatly impact the flavor of the cheese.
4. This cheese is still being produced with raw milk, still made over an open fire, still aged on wood boards. The Tschudi family produces 20,000 lbs. per year….andthis cheese traveled 5,759 miles to get to my retailer!!
Adopt-an-Alp was created back in 2013 by Caroline Hostettler as a way of showcasing small production cheeses that are still made the old-fashioned way using time honored production methods and sharing these precious cheeses (and their stories) to America!
Want to know more about the Adopt-an-Alp program? Here are some frequently asked questions:
Q: What is “Adopt-an-Alp” all about?
A: Adopt-an-Alp is guided towards everyone who loves cheese - the makers, sellers, and consumers. The participants have access to seasonally made, hand crafted, smallest production Alp cheeses. They also are in contact with and learn about the people and animals that make it possible for us to enjoy these precious cheeses.
Q: Why Adopt an Alp?
A: Thanks to Adopt-an-alp American cheese lovers have access to truly rare cheeses made during summers only on Swiss mountains, the Alp cheeses. They also get a glimpse into the everyday lives of the animals that contribute the milk and the farmers who craft these unique cheeses. This connection leads to a mutual respect and the realization that we all need to work together in order to be able continue to enjoy Alp cheese.
Want your local cheese shop to look into this?...Just share this story and the Adopt-an-Alp link above.
Now, it’s time to return to the store to pick up some more before it’s gone!...’Tis the season!
Until next time,
Trevor, your Cheese Traveler
