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Donkey Cheese The New Delicacy?

Donkey cheese

Move over Switzerland, there’s a new cheese in town. Donkey cheese is being hailed as a super food, but costs more than $1000 a kilo.

Donkey cheese producer Slobodan Simić

Slobodan Simić, producer of donkey cheese

Many places and animals are known for their cheese, but nothing quite compares to what this Serb is cooking. 50 miles west of the Serbian capital Belgrade, Slobodan Simić is the only one in the world producing donkey cheese. It might sound rather bizarre, but it’s benefit and price will have you thinking twice.

While there’s nothing really wrong with cow milk, it’s delicious, it’s healthy and it’s plentiful, it doesn’t really compete with donkey milk and the cheese you can make with it. Milk from donkeys is exceptionally high in protein, calcium and omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential to maintaining cardiovascular health.

You can figure that it is not a very attractive option, cheese made out of milk from a donkey, but with more and more cases of intolerance to cow milk, this could be the solution. The only problem is that it costs over $1000 per kilogram.

Simić started out with merely 12 donkey 16 years ago, now he has a herd of almost 300 to supply his production. He calls it “pule”, and requires 25 liters of fresh donkey milk to produce on liter of cheese. No wonder it’s so expensive.

Due to its rarity and price, few people have actually tasted the cheese. But those who have, claim that it is close to Manchego, and has a rich, nutty, earthy flavor and a crumbly texture.

There will be a while before you can find pule at your local grocery store. But then again, you might not want to find it there.

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