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Fermentation Atlas

Cheese from Italy

Caciottone di Norcia IGPCaciottone di Norcia

Cylinder 20–22 cm across, 9–11 cm high, 3.2 kg (±12 %); smooth washed straw-to-ochre rind (not edible if waxed). Made in 6 steps over 31 days – 32 days. The longest step, ripen, then wash the forms before sale, takes at least 30 days (Documento unico 'Caciottone di Norcia' 2024). Salt is 16–21 % (Documento unico 'Caciottone di Norcia' 2024). Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus do most of the fermenting.

Key numbers
Main stepat least 30 daysSet[eu-application][onaf-sheet]Ripen, then wash the forms before sale
Temperature70–73 °CSet[eu-application][onaf-sheet]Pasteurise the mixed milk and inoculate
Salt16–21 %Set[eu-application][onaf-sheet]Brine 24–36 h at 16–21 °Bé, or dry-salt
DocumentedCheese31 days – 32 daysMore other cheesesMore from Italy

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedWhat goes in. No source gives amounts for this ferment.
pasteurised cow milk 90–95 % + pasteurised ewe milk 5–10 %
Starter: defined-culture (direct inoculation of streptococci and lactobacilli)

Total time across the recorded steps: 31 days – 32 days

Start
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70–73 °C

What changes: The mixed milk is pasteurised at 70–73 °C and inoculated

Step 1 of 6
Pasteurise the mixed milk and inoculate
Time
0.6–1.3 min
Set
Temperature
70–73 °C
Set
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Lactic acid bacteria
S. thermophilus
Lactobacillus

Output: inoculated milk.

Flavour
cooked-milk notes
Texture
liquid
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

heat kills wild flora; starter added

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

Safety

Pasteurised milk.

History and sources

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

PGI application published OJ C/2024/1985 (6.3.2024); registered 2024. Larger than the usual Umbrian caciotta, hence 'caciottone'.

  1. [eu-application] Documento unico 'Caciottone di Norcia', OJ C/2024/1985, via ONAFspec
  2. [onaf-sheet] ONAF technical sheet 'Caciottone di Norcia' (id 1382)web