It should come as no surprise that the best place to find mozzarella cheese is in Italy. Specifically, the Campania region of Italy is known for their fabulous mozzarella. There are two types of mozzarella cheese. If you’re an American, you’re probably most familiar with fior di latte mozzarella, which is made from cow’s milk. This can be found in many varieties, from the dry kind that can stay good in the refrigerator over a period of weeks to the fresh kind that is packaged in liquid for short term storage. Harder to find in American grocery stores is the mozzarella di bufala, that comes from Campania.
While mozzarella di bufala is not exclusive to Campania, it’s said to have originated there and the mozzarella from that area is still widely considered to be the best. That is why you might see the words “mozzarella di bufala Campana” on the packaging, guaranteeing that the cheese came from this particular region. Mozzarella di bufala is not made from cow’s milk. Instead, the milk from domestic water buffalo gives this cheese its distinctive flavor.
Aside from water buffalo milk, mozzarella di bufala is made with rennet (a combination of enzymes often used in cheese making) and salt. It takes about four liters of water buffalo milk to make a kilogram (a little over two pounds) of the buffalo mozzarella cheese. It is stretched and molded into a globe, or occasionally braided or plaited. The water buffalo that are bred to give milk for buffalo mozzarella, the farms that they live on, and the dairies that make the cheese are all subjected to regular inspections in order for the cheeses that they produce to obtain the seal that designates them as official mozzarella di bufala campana. The cheese is packaged in one of several ways, usually in cream or some other type of preserving liquid, although you may be able to find it wrapped in myrtle leaves, which gives it a unique scent.
There are a number of reasons to enjoy mozzarella di bufala, or buffalo mozzarella, even aside from its unique flavor. Cheese made with water buffalo milk is said to have health benefits over cheese made with cow’s milk. It has more calcium and protein than cow’s milk, and less cholesterol. That means that if you’re visiting Campania in Italy, you can definitely take the time to try some local buffalo mozzarella, guilt free.
While in Italy, you can take a cheese tour and visit one or several of the caseificio, or dairies, in Campania. During a cheese tour, you’ll get to see the process involved in producing the local mozzarella cheese, and you’ll also get a chance to taste the finished product. Some tours even include a trip to the farms where the water buffalo live. Don’t miss the chance to check out these delicious cheeses when you next travel to Italy.
