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Fermentation Atlas

Cheese from Georgia, Mtskheta-Mtianeti

Kobiკობი

Kobi is a large brined cheese from Stepantsminda in the high Caucasus. The curd is set at 32–34 °C, cut, warmed again, drained in cloth bags and pressed in forms. It is dry-salted for 15–20 days until a slimy layer forms, washed, and then kept in a strong brine for at least two months. Made in 9 steps over 2.5 months – 2.7 months. The longest step, keep in strong brine, takes at least 2 months (Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia 2012). Salt is 16–18 % (Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia 2012). Lactic bacteria does most of the fermenting.

Key numbers
Main stepat least 2 monthsSet[kobi-gi]Keep in strong brine
Temperature32–34 °CSet[kobi-gi]Set the milk with rennet
Salt16–18 %Set[kobi-gi]Keep in strong brine
Fully documentedCheese2.5 months – 2.7 monthsGeographical indication (Georgia, reg. no. 12, 24 January 2012)Family: White brined cheese family (Feta PDO as template)More white brined cheesesMore from Georgia

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedThe specification fixes limits, not a recipe. A cheese weighs 4.5–8 kg, 24–28 cm across and 10–14 cm high.
Milk · Produced and processed in Stepantsminda municipality; the species is not stated[kobi-gi]
Rennet (milk-clotting enzyme)[kobi-gi]
Salt · Dry salt, then a 16–18% brine[kobi-gi]
Starter: The specification names no starter.

Total time across the recorded steps: 2.5 months – 2.7 months

Start
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What changes: Starting material: milk from the mountain farms of Stepantsminda

Step 1 of 9
Collect the milk
Time
Not documented
Temperature
Not documented
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Lactic acid bacteria

Milk must be produced and processed within Stepantsminda municipality.

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

Kobi has two salting stages. It is first dry-salted for two to three weeks until a slimy surface layer forms, then washed and brined for two months or more. At 4.5–8 kg it is a large cheese, and the specification gives it no crust on top.

Rind
No crust on the round top
Size
Low cylinder 24–28 cm across, 10–14 cm high, with slightly prominent sides; 4.5–8 kg
Composition
Moisture at most 50%; fat in dry matter at least 46–48%; salt 4–7%

Related ferments

Safety

The specification sets no safety limits. A long time in a 16–18% brine makes the cheese salty (4–7% salt).

History and sources

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

Kobi was registered as a Georgian geographical indication in 2012, with the Ministry of Agriculture as applicant. Its specification limits making to Stepantsminda municipality.

  1. [kobi-gi] Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, specification "კობი/KOBI", registered in Georgia as a geographical indication, reg. no. 12, 24 January 2012 (copy published by the UK government)spec
  2. [wp-gi-list] Wikipedia, Protected Geographical Indications for Georgian products (list only)wiki