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Fermentation Atlas

Cheese from Appenzell Innerrhoden and Ausserrhoden, and parts of St. Gallen and Thurgau, Switzerland

AppenzellerAppenzeller Käse

Raw cow milk is set with lactic bacteria and rennet, cut with a cheese harp, warmed and pressed into small wheels. After a 48-hour salt bath the wheels are rubbed with salt water, then with a secret herbal brine (Kräutersulz) for at least three months, which gives the spicy flavour. Made in 7 steps over 3.4 months. The longest step, ripen with herbal brine, takes at least 3 months (SO Appenzeller Käse GmbH 2024). Lactic bacteria added with the rennet does most of the fermenting.

Key numbers
Main stepat least 3 monthsReported[app-factsheet][lmp2020][guggisberg2017]Ripen with herbal brine
Temperature32 °CReported[lee2015]Add lactic bacteria and rennet

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedCommercial cheese with a secret recipe; no source gives amounts.
Raw cow milk · From cows fed only herb-rich grass and hay; delivered twice a day[app-factsheet][lmp2020]
Lactic bacteria and rennet[lmp2020]
Salt · As a salt bath, then salt water rubbed on the rind[lmp2020]
Herbal brine (Kräutersulz) · Its recipe is a closely kept secret[app-factsheet][lmp2020]
Starter: lactic bacteria added with the rennet

Total time across the recorded steps: 3.4 months

Start
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What changes: Starting material: raw milk from cows fed grass and hay

Step 1 of 7
Bring in raw milk twice a day
Time
Not documented
Temperature
Not documented
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Lactic acid bacteria

Output: raw cow milk.

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
Not documented
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

Not documented for this step.

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source

What makes this one different

Appenzeller is sold as a registered brand (®). Its rind is rubbed for months with a secret herbal brine (Kräutersulz) that gives the spicy flavour, unlike the plain salt or smear care of Emmentaler and Gruyère.

Milk
Raw cow milk from cows fed only grass and hay
Ripening
At least 3 months (Mild-Würzig); 4–5 months (Kräftig-Würzig)
Composition
At least 48 % fat in dry matter
Size
Round, 30–33 cm across, 7–9 cm high, about 6.7 kg

Related ferments

Variants

  • Mild-WürzigHerbal-brine care for at least three months; silver label.
  • Kräftig-WürzigCare for four to five months.
  • Extra-WürzigRipened a guaranteed six months.
  • RahmkäseExtra cream added; at least three months.

History and sources

Every number is labelled with how it is known. How this atlas is made

A 1928 USDA bulletin describes Appenzell cheese as made in Appenzell and in Bavaria and Baden, usually from skim milk.

  1. [app-factsheet] SO Appenzeller Käse GmbH 2024, Factsheet Appenzeller Mild-Würzig (and Extra factsheet for the six-month Extra)web
  2. [lmp2020] Mittler H. 2020, Warenverkaufskunde Appenzeller, Lebensmittel Praxis, 9 October 2020web
  3. [guggisberg2017] Guggisberg D., Winkler H. et al. 2017, Influence of chemical and biochemical characteristics on the texture of Appenzeller cheese, International Dairy Journal 75:111–119 (abstract read)paper
  4. [templer2007] Templer S.P., Baumgartner A. 2007, Enterococci from Appenzeller and Schabziger raw milk cheese, Journal of Food Protection 70:450–455 (abstract read)paper
  5. [lee2015] Lee J.-S., Choi H.-Y. et al. 2015, Physicochemical and sensory properties of Appenzeller cheese supplemented with shrimp powder, Korean Journal for Food Science of Animal Resources 35(2):232 (laboratory version from pasteurized milk)paper
  6. [usda1928] Doane C.F., Lawson H.W., revised by Matheson K.J. 1928, Varieties of cheese, descriptions and analyses, USDA Bulletin 608 (entry "Appenzell")archive