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Fermentation Atlas

Cheese from Croatia, Lika

Lički škripavac

Lički škripavac is a fresh, full-fat cow cheese from Lika in Croatia that squeaks against the teeth. Whole milk is set with rennet at about 35 °C, the curd is cut and heated above 41 °C, salted either in the milk or on the drained grains, then lightly pressed and eaten fresh with no ripening. The squeak fades during storage. Made in 7 steps over 2.2 h – 2.3 h. The longest step, mould and press lightly, takes 1 h (Ivaniš M 2024). Salt is 1.5–3 % (Ivaniš M 2024). Lactic acid bacteria from the milk or an added culture does most of the fermenting.

Key numbers
Main step1 hReported[ivanis2024]Mould and press lightly
Temperature4 °CReported[ivanis2024]Start with whole cow milk
Salt1.5–3 %Reported[ivanis2024]Drain the whey and salt
AciditypH 6.4–6.5Measured[ivanis2024]Keep cold and eat fresh

Recipe

Amounts from a sourceAmounts are from a 2024 University of Zagreb pilot-plant study that followed the producers' PGI specification. Each 40 L batch of raw milk was split into two 20 kg parts, one for each salting method.
20 kg per cheese batch in the 2024 studyWhole cow milk, raw or pasteurised · The PGI specification asks for at least 3.5 % fat and 3.2 % protein[ivanis2024][croatiaweek]
Rennet · Powdered rennet in the 2024 study[ivanis2024]
Dairy starter culture · Named in the PGI description; the 2024 pilot study lists none[croatiaweek][ivanis2024]
3 % of the milk (about 600 g per 20 kg) or 1.5 % (about 300 g per 20 kg)Fine sea salt · 3 % if added to the milk before renneting, 1.5 % if mixed into the drained curd grains[ivanis2024]
Starterrennet; a dairy culture in the PGI description

Total time across the recorded steps: 2.2 h – 2.3 h

Start
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4 °C

What changes: Starting material: whole cow milk from Lika cows

Step 1 of 7
Start with whole cow milk
Time
Not documented
Temperature
4 °C
Reported
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Lactic acid bacteria
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

The curd is heated above 41 °C, hotter than for most fresh cheeses, which gives the squeak. Salt goes either into the milk before renneting or onto the drained grains, and the cheese is eaten fresh, not ripened.

Milk
cow milk, raw or pasteurised, whole; from cows raised in Lika
Setting
rennet
Ripening
none; sold fresh with no rind. Hardness rises and the squeak fades over 28 days of storage.
Rind
none
Size
cylindrical or rectangular
Composition
Total solids 46.05 % (salted milk) and 47.17 % (salted grains); protein 17.46 % and 18.56 %; fat 24.80 % and 25.78 %

Related ferments

Variants

  • Salted in the milk3 % salt in the milk before renneting; softer, wetter cheese with higher yield.
  • Salted on the grains1.5 % salt mixed into the drained curd; harder, less elastic cheese.

Safety

A fresh, unripened cheese with a high pH (6.43–6.53), so it must be kept cold (4–8 °C in the study). Raw milk may be used.

History and sources

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

The producers' association began the protection procedure in December 2017, and the EU registered the name as a PGI in December 2021.

  1. [ivanis2024] Ivaniš M., Tudor Kalit M., Rako A., Bendelja Ljoljić D., Kos I., Dolenčić Špehar I., Kalit S. 2024, Influence of salting method on the chemical composition, yield, texture and sensory properties of Škripavac cheese, Mljekarstvo 74(4):276–284paper
  2. [kalit2026] Kalit S., Rako A., Tudor Kalit M., Samaržija D., Dolenčić Špehar I. 2026, Preservation of squeakiness and exploring consumer perception of geographical origin of Lički škripavac cheese, Mljekarstvo 76(4):201–209 (abstract)paper
  3. [eambrosia] European Commission, eAmbrosia register, Lički škripavac PGI-HR-02600 (application OJ C 325, 13.8.2021; registered by Reg. (EU) 2021/2270, OJ L 457, 21.12.2021)gov
  4. [croatiaweek] Croatia Week 2021, Lički škripavac cheese becomes 32nd Croatian protected designation of origin (quotes the EU product description)web