As in many other small cheese dairies, Hansruedi Gasser produces other specialties beside "the king of cheeses“ (as Emmentaler AOP is affectionately called). Emmentaler AOP is strictly regulated by the interbranch organization. There are assigned quantities which are not allowed to be exceeded. So, the milk not used for Emmentaler AOP production is used for other fine specialties. Gourmino selects the best specialties from its own cheesemakers and sells these cheese discoveries or “trouvailles” all over the world.
When Hansruedi looks through the window of his cheese dairy, he has a direct view to the Schallenberg Mountain. A winding road leads up to the pass at 1’167 meters above sea level where you have a spectacular view of the Bernese Oberland. The Schallenberg Mountain connects the city of Thun with the Emmental and Entlebuch valleys and attracts in the warm summer days many passionate bikers and cyclists. This pleases Hansruedi and Brigitte as the ride mostly includes a stop at the cheese dairy Oberei.
The launch of the Schallenberg cheese was preceded by an intensive development phase in the cheese dairy. Hansruedi and his team wanted to create a cheese that stands out from the already existing specialties. It was not an easy task. In our opinion it turned out very well because the Schallenberg cheese is produced with fresh whole milk. And depending on how high the fat content is according to the season Hansruedi adds cream to the milk. The ripening up to 16 months of a fullfat cheese with at least 55% fat in dry mater requires perfect quality milk and meticulous work.
Hansruedi takes care of the affinage of the Schallenberg cheese himself. During the first day after production the cheese wheels are turned at least once every two hours. During the following 4 to 6 weeks they are brushed daily with salt water and after that ripened up to 16 months. The cheese dairy has a small cave, so most of the cheeses ripen in the cheese cave of the cooperative in Schangnau. It is located right over the Schallenberg pass about 10 minutes drive from Hansruedi’s cheese dairy.
Product details
Raw ingredients Fresh raw milk from dairy cows left to graze naturally (no silage). The use of any form of additives or genetically modified ingredients is strictly forbidden.
Source: Gourmino AG