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Fermentation Atlas

Cheese from Switzerland, canton of Valais

Raclette du Valais

Raw cow milk is seeded with lactic cultures, warmed to 32 °C, set with calf rennet at 30–33 °C, cut, washed with water and stirred at 36–45 °C. The pressed wheel drains to about pH 5.0, is brined, and ripens at least three months at 7–14 °C on red-fir boards while its smeared rind is brushed. Made in 7 steps over 3 months. The longest step, ripen on red-fir boards, brushing the smear, takes at least 3 months (Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (OFAG) 2023) and runs at 7–14 °C (Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (OFAG) 2023). Lactic cultures specific to Raclette du Valais and Smear (morge) flora native to each dairy; Brevibacterium linens may be used after a long break in production do most of the fermenting.

Key numbers
Main stepat least 3 monthsSet[rac-cdc]Ripen on red-fir boards, brushing the smear
Temperature7–14 °CSet[rac-cdc]Ripen on red-fir boards, brushing the smear
AciditypH 4.8–5.2Set[rac-cdc]Pre-press, mould and press

Recipe

Amounts from a sourceThe specification sets the water share and no other amounts.
Raw cow milk · Cooled only; no heat treatment. From at most two successive milkings[rac-cdc]
Calf rennet · Only animal rennet from calf stomach is allowed[rac-cdc]
Lactic cultures specific to Raclette du Valais · Listed by the producers' group[rac-cdc]
10–15 % of the milk volumeDrinking water · Added to wash out lactose (optional in alpine dairies)[rac-cdc]
Salt · Brine or dry salt on the surface[rac-cdc]
Smear (morge) cultures · From the dairy's own flora; Brevibacterium linens allowed if that fails[rac-cdc]
Starterlactic cultures specific to Raclette du Valais; natural smear flora on the rind

Total time across the recorded steps: 3 months

Start
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up to 8 °C

What changes: Starting material: raw cow milk from the Valais, cooled but never heated

Step 1 of 7
Collect and cool raw milk
Time
up to 24 h
Set
Temperature
up to 8 °C
Set
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Brevibacterium linens
Yeasts

Output: raw milk.

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
Not documented
Colour
white

Microbes at work in this step

raw-milk flora

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

Raclette du Valais must be made from raw milk, and the curd is washed with 10–15 % water before it is heated. Its rind is a smear grown from each dairy's own flora, and wheels are stamped with the name of the alp or dairy. The long-aged à rebibes version is soaked, scrubbed and oiled to be shaved thin.

Milk
Raw cow milk, cooled only
Ripening
At least 3 months at 7–14 °C and 88–96 % RH; à la coupe at least 2 months; à rebibes at least 12 months at 4–14 °C and 70–80 % RH
Size
29–32 cm across, 6–8 cm high, 4.6–5.8 kg; à rebibes 4–6 cm high, 3.3–5 kg; fat 500–549 g per kg of dry matter

Related ferments

Variants

  • Raclette du Valais à la coupeRipened at least 2 months; sold in pieces.
  • Raclette du Valais à rebibesRipened at least 12 months at 4–14 °C and 70–80 % RH; at 3–4 months soaked 25–30 min in 22–25 °C water, scrubbed, then rubbed with oil and vinegar; shaved thin.

Safety

The milk is raw; the specification bans any heat treatment other than cooling.

History and sources

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

  1. [rac-cdc] Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (OFAG), register of designations of origin, Cahier des charges pour Raclette du Valais (AOP), as amended to 13 Dec 2023spec
  2. [egger2021] Egger L., Ménard O., Abbühl L., Duerr D., Stoffers H., Berthoud H. et al. 2021, Higher microbial diversity in raw than in pasteurized milk Raclette-type cheese enhances peptide and metabolite diversity after in vitro digestion, Food Chemistry 340:128154, doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128154 (abstract)paper