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Fermentation Atlas

Fermented milk from Røros and Nord-Østerdal, Norway

Tjukkmjølk (Økologisk Tjukkmjølk fra Røros, PGI)tjukkmjølk

firm, pudding-like set sour milk with mild rounded acidity. Made in 4 steps over 24 h. The longest step, fill cartons and sour in a tempered store, takes 24 h (Mattilsynet 2004) and runs at 20–23 °C (Mattilsynet 2004). mesophilic LAB from butterwort leaves does most of the fermenting.

Key numbers
Main step24 hSet[fao][wp-no]Fill cartons and sour in a tempered store
Temperature20–23 °CSet[fao][wp-no]Fill cartons and sour in a tempered store
AciditypH 6.6TypicalSkim and pasteurise (no homogenisation)

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedWhat goes in. No source gives amounts for this ferment.
organic cow milk
skimmed
pasteurised
NOT homogenised
Starter: backslop of traditional tettekultur (a blend of three traditional household cultures from the area); historically started on butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) leaves

Total time across the recorded steps: 24 h

Start
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Milk proteinGel (curd)shapes, not to countLactic acid bacteria

What changes: Milk poured over butterwort leaves coagulates overnight

Step 1 of 4
Historical start on butterwort leaves
Time
overnight
Unconfirmed
Temperature
udder-warm milk set 'in a snug place' (no number given)
Unconfirmed
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Lactic acid bacteria

Output: first tettemelk; then kept alive by adding a little to raw milk (backslop).

Flavour
mild sour
Texture
coagulates
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

LAB living on the leaf surface seed the milk

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 Norwegian PGI ropy milk; tätmjölk and långfil are its Swedish relatives.

Variants

  • Tjukkøl (Østerdalen summer farms)Off-tasting beer mixed with a cup of tettemelk (no.wikipedia "Tettemelk").
  • Emigrant dried-cloth cultureA cloth soaked in thick milk and dried, revived in lukewarm milk in America (no.wikipedia).

Safety

Pasteurised base; low risk.

History and sources

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

The regulation annex traces tjukkmjølk in Nord-Østerdal/Røros at least to the 1850s; it was a staple for Røros miners because it keeps well. PGI granted 2004 (first Norwegian PGI per no.wikipedia).

  1. [fao] Mattilsynet, Forskrift om beskyttelse av produktbetegnelsen Økologisk Tjukkmjølk fra Røros (FOR-2004-02-10-581), via FAOLEXspec
  2. [wp-no] no.wikipedia, Tettemelk, (cites Furuset 2005 Naturen 5:206–214; Furuset 2008 Blyttia)wiki