Skip to main content
Support

Browse by category

All categories
Fermentation Atlas

Cheese from Germany, Bavaria

ObatzdaObazda

Obatzda is a Bavarian spread, not a cheese made from milk. Ripe, soft Camembert or Brie is broken up and mixed with butter, paprika and salt, and often onion, beer or caraway, into an orange spread with pieces of cheese in it. The fermentation happened earlier, in the cheese it is made from.

Recipe

Amounts from a sourceThe specification is a frame recipe; amounts are minimum or maximum shares of the finished spread. Processed cheese, yoghurt, crème fraîche and sour cream are not allowed.
At least 40 % of the finished spreadCamembert and/or Brie · Well ripened and soft; may be topped up with Romadur, Limburger or fresh cheese (also quark)[lfl-obazda]
At least 50 % of the finished spread, all cheese togetherCheese in total[lfl-obazda]
Butter · 80–90 % milk fat[lfl-obazda]
Paprika powder and/or paprika extract · For the red-orange colour[lfl-obazda]
Salt[lfl-obazda]
At most 15 % of the finished spread, togetherOnion and beer, optional[lfl-obazda]
Cream, milk or milk or whey protein, caraway, other spices and herbs, optional[lfl-obazda]
Starternone added; the ripened Camembert or Brie brings its own flora
Start
Drag the bar or press Play

What changes: Starting material: ripe, creamy Camembert or Brie

Step 1 of 3
Take ripe, soft Camembert or Brie
Time
Not documented
Temperature
Not documented
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented

Output: ripe bloomy-rind cheese.

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
creamy-soft, well ripened
Colour
white rind, cream paste

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

Obatzda is not fermented itself. It is a protected spread made by mixing already ripened Camembert or Brie with butter and paprika, so its flavour comes from the bloomy-rind cheese. The rules set minimum cheese shares and a short list of allowed extras.

Cheese share
At least 40 % Camembert or Brie and at least 50 % cheese in total
Onion and beer
At most 15 % of the spread together
Where made
Made in Bavaria; the ingredients may come from elsewhere

Related ferments

History and sources

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

  1. [lfl-obazda] Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL), Information zur Herstellung von „Obazda / Obatzter" g.g.A. in der Gastronomie (summary of the product specification, version 7e of 24 Oct 2014), 27 Sep 2017gov
  2. [eu-2015-1002] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1002 of 16 June 2015 entering 'Obazda' / 'Obatzter' (PGI) in the registerspec