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Fermentation Atlas

Whey cheeses

Whey proteins precipitated by heat and acid at about 80–90 °C, as for ricotta.

68 entries listed here.

How these cheeses are made

The shared make of whey cheese (heat-precipitated whey protein) family. Each cheese below says what it does differently.

  1. Collect whey and heat30 min – 1 h · 80–90 °C · 0–1 % salt
  2. Acidify and skim85–90 °C
  3. Drain in baskets0–1.5 % salt

Compare them

CheeseRegionMilkRipeningRind
AnariCyprusSheep and goat halloumi whey with a little milk; not made from cow whey1 h
AnthotyrosGreeceSheep and goat whey, sometimes with milk35–40 days
Brocciu PDOFrance, CorsicaWhey and raw whole milk of Corsican sheep and goats only; no frozen or powdered milk or wheyFresh, or passu after at least 21 days
Manouri PDOGreece, Central and Western Macedonia and ThessalyWhey of sheep or goat milk, enriched with sheep or goat cream and milkFresh; kept at 4–5 °C
Myzithra (Mizithra)Greece30 days
Ricotta di capra fresca o affumicata (Trentino)Italy, Trentinoup to 3 days
Ricotta di pecora e di capra dei Monti LepiniItaly, LazioSheep and goat whey with 2 % sheep or goat milkNone; drained about a day and kept a few days at 5 °CNone; milk-white surface marked by the basket
Ricotta forte (scanta)Italy, PugliaWhey from ewe, goat, cow or mixed cheesemaking, with up to 10–12 % milk2–6 months in clay or plastic tubs
Ricotta fresca o affumicata (Trentino)Italy, Trentino7 days
BrùzzoItaly, Liguria7 daysNone; sold in small tubs
Casàda con la ricottaItaly, Trentino-Alto Adige, Prov. Trento8 hNone
Ricotta affumicata di malgaItaly, Friuli Venezia Giulia24 h – 2 daysNone; brown, streaked surface
Ricotta di capraItaly, Friuli Venezia Giulia2–3 daysNone
Ricotta di pecora grossetanaItaly, Toscana5–10 minNone; basket-marked, white
Ricotta di pecora o di capra lavorataItaly, Sardegnaat least 30 daysNone; very white, turns yellowish when older
Ricotta di pecora pistoieseItaly, Toscana5–10 minNone
Ricotta fresca ovinaItaly, Sardegna18–22 hNone; snow white
Ricotta infornataItaly, Sicilia24 h – 2 daysThin baked skin, amber to reddish-brown, sometimes crunchy
Ricotta marzotica lecceseItaly, Pugliaat least 30 daysThin, white, wrinkled, grass-covered; occasional green mould
Ricotta moliternaItaly, Sardegna15–20 daysNone; white
Ricotta mustiaItaly, Sardegna24 hNone or almost none; amber from smoke
Ricotta salapreseItaly, Campania2–5.9 monthsThin, clean, hard, dry, pale ivory
Ricotta salata o marzoticaItaly, Pugliaat least 30 daysThin, wrinkled, white, or brown if bran-coated; possible green mould
Ricotta stagionata di pecoraItaly, Abruzzoat least 30 daysThin, clean or bloomy; milk-white, ochre or black depending on age and method
Ricotta testa di mortoItaly, Sardegna20–30 daysNone; white, cloth-marked
Ricotta toscanellaItaly, Sardegna15–30 daysNone; white
SarassoItaly, Liguria30 daysThin, rough, fairly hard; pale straw with whitish mould spots
BrossaItaly, Valle d'AostaNone
Brossat (brull)Spain and Andorra
Brus da ricottaItaly, PiemonteNone
CuincirItaly, Friuli Venezia Giulia45 days – 2 monthsNone
Glarner SchabzigerGlaruscow milk, skim (ziger)months
LorTurkeywheyfresh
MascarpaItaly, PiemonteNone when fresh; thin, wrinkled, grey or ochre, clean or bloomy when aged
O' PelusoItaly, CampaniaNone; ivory white, soft and crumbly
Requeijão da Beira BaixaPortugal, Beira Baixa15–30 min
Requeijão Serra da Estrela PDOPortugalsheep milk, wheyfresh
Requesón (Mexico)Mexico
Ricotta calda con sieroItaly, Lazio
Ricotta di Bufala Campana PDOCampaniabuffalo milk, wheyfresh
Ricotta di capra affumicataItaly, CalabriaClean; rough, basket marks
Ricotta di colostro ovinoItaly, SardegnaNone; white, rough surface
Ricotta di pecora masseseItaly, Toscana5–10 minNone
Ricotta di pecora nera di ArbusItaly, SardegnaNone
Ricotta di stazzoItaly, AbruzzoNone; basket marks
Ricotta di vaccaItaly, Sicilia15–30 minNone; ivory, basket-marked
Ricotta fresca ed essiccata di capraItaly, Campania15–30 minFresh none, bright white; dried: very thin ivory skin
Ricotta fresca ed essiccata di pecoraItaly, Campania15–30 minFresh none, milk-white; dried: very thin ivory skin
Ricotta ibleaItaly, Sicilia15–30 minNone; ivory, basket-marked
Ricotta mantèca di MontellaItaly, Campaniaat least 10 minNone; pale straw, glossy from the fat
Ricotta mistaItaly, Sicilia15–30 minNone; ivory, straw if ewe whey dominates
Ricotta ovina di ArischiaItaly, AbruzzoNone; rough, basket marks; pale straw-yellow paste
Ricotta Romana PDOLaziosheep milk, wheyfresh
Ricotta salataSicily/Sardiniasheep milk, whey~3 mo
Ricotta SchotteItaly, SappadaNone; classic brown surface, fresh white with green tarragon flecks
Ricotta seccaItaly, LazioClean or treated; white to straw-yellow
Ricotta vaccina fresca dell'Emilia-RomagnaItaly, Emilia-RomagnaNone
Ricotta viterbeseItaly, LazioNone; white, basket-marked
Ricottone salatoItaly, CalabriaClean, rough, basket marks; beige to brown
SalignoùnItaly, Valle d'AostaNone
Seirass del fenItaly, PiemonteNone when fresh; aged ones get a soft mould film, straw to green-grey
Seirass di siero di pecoraItaly, PiemonteNone; white, slightly wrinkled surface
Seirass stagionatoItaly, PiemonteLight greyish mould film, or wrapped in mountain herbs (e.g. wild thyme)
Sérac / séré (Swiss whey cheese, Ziger)Switzerland
SérasItaly, Valle d'AostaNone (fresh) or clean (aged)
Travia da Beira BaixaPortugal, Beira Baixa15–30 min
UrdăRomaniasheep milk, wheyfresh
Xinomyzithra Kritis PDOCretesheep/goat milk, whey≥2 mo

Bold names have a full page with the animated steps. Blank cells: no sourced value yet.

Short entries

What the sources record about each of these so far.

BrossaItaly, Valle d'Aosta

Thick-liquid whey cream, used on polenta or as a dessert with sugar and cinnamon.

Rind
None
Size
No shape; usually kept in glass bottles
Boundary
A whey-and-cream product, not a formed cheese
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd83–84 °C
  3. Mould and salt
Brossat (brull)Spain and Andorra

Catalan whey cheese; brull fills the flaons pastries of Morella.

  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd
  3. Mould and salt
Brus da ricottaItaly, Piemonte

Fermented spreadable ewe's ricotta, often spiced with chilli or black pepper (SURF-HERB in paste).

Rind
None
Size
Net 50–300 g in small glass jars (tech sheet 0.150–0.200 kg)
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Mould and salt
  3. Ripen
CuincirItaly, Friuli Venezia Giulia

Also called Cuncir.

Spreadable, pungent fermented ricotta of the Friulian mountains, kept for long storage.

Rind
None
Size
Takes the container's shape
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Mould and salt
  3. Ripen45 days – 2 months
Glarner SchabzigerGlarus

blue fenugreek; cone

Milk
cow milk, skim (ziger)
Ripening
months

Made like Whey cheese (heat-precipitated whey protein) family.

LorTurkey
Milk
whey
Ripening
fresh

Made like Whey cheese (heat-precipitated whey protein) family.

MascarpaItaly, Piemonte

Also called Mascherpa, Mascherpin (small forms).

Aged and sometimes smoked ricotta of Valsesia, sweeter and stronger than fresh ricotta, never piquant.

Rind
None when fresh; thin, wrinkled, grey or ochre, clean or bloomy when aged
Size
0.5–1.0 kg; roughly round from the cloth
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Mould and salt
  3. Ripen
O' PelusoItaly, Campania

Lean, sweet shepherd's whey cheese packed in fig or vine leaves.

Rind
None; ivory white, soft and crumbly
Size
About 200 g; round or slightly oblong
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd
  3. Mould and salt
Requeijão da Beira BaixaPortugal, Beira Baixa

Whey cheese tied by DOP to the whey of the three Beira Baixa cheeses.

Size
150–400 g
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd15–30 min · 80–90 °C
  3. Cut and drain the curd
Requeijão Serra da Estrela PDOPortugal
Milk
sheep milk, whey
Ripening
fresh

Made like Whey cheese (heat-precipitated whey protein) family.

Requesón (Mexico)Mexico

Mexican ricotta-type whey cheese; Mexican food standards class it as a 'queso de suero'. Used in gorditas, tamales and sweets.

  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd90 °C
  3. Cut and drain the curd
  4. Mould and salt
Ricotta calda con sieroItaly, Lazio

Also called Ricotta calda con siero, hot ricotta with whey (Rieti).

Ricotta is a boundary entry, set by heat and acid, not by microbes. Ricotta calda con siero, "hot ricotta with whey", is a Rieti specialty that Lazio added to Italy's list of traditional food products in 2026. No technical sheet has been published yet; the name says the ricotta is served hot, in its whey.

Made like Whey cheese (heat-precipitated whey protein) family.

Ricotta di Bufala Campana PDOCampania
Milk
buffalo milk, whey
Ripening
fresh

Made like Whey cheese (heat-precipitated whey protein) family.

Ricotta di capra affumicataItaly, Calabria

Salted and smoked goat whey ricotta, some shaped as a club-headed fertility symbol. Made all year, mainly October–July.

Rind
Clean; rough, basket marks
Size
Cylindrical 0.25–0.30 kg (Ø ~10, length 20 cm) or drumstick 'fertility symbol' form 0.7–1.0 kg (Ø 6, length 30 cm)
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd65 °C
  3. Mould and salt
  4. Ripen
Ricotta di colostro ovinoItaly, Sardegna

Ricotta made from the whey of ewe colostrum cheese; rare and seasonal, sometimes smoked.

Rind
None; white, rough surface
Size
Ø 15–20 cm; weight varies by maker
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd
  3. Mould and salt
  4. Ripen4–6 °C
Ricotta di pecora masseseItaly, Toscana

On summer pastures (Jun–Aug) shepherds drain it well and wrap it in woven beech (sometimes hornbeam) twigs and leaves, making it creamier and longer-keeping.

Rind
None
Size
~300 g; truncated cone
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd5–10 min · 80–85 °C
  3. Mould and salt
Ricotta di pecora nera di ArbusItaly, Sardegna

Fresh ricotta from the whey of the rare black Arbus sheep; once made in the one-room 'sa domu de su casu'.

Rind
None
Size
300 g or 1500 g; truncated cone
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd90 °C
  3. Mould and salt
Ricotta di stazzoItaly, Abruzzo

Unsalted fresh whey ricotta sold straight from the summer sheep fold.

Rind
None; basket marks
Size
Variable; cylinder or truncated cone
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curdat least 80 °C
  3. Mould and salt
Ricotta di vaccaItaly, Sicilia

Sicilian fresh cow-whey ricotta enriched with milk and set with acid whey.

Rind
None; ivory, basket-marked
Size
0.5–1.0 kg; truncated cone
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd15–30 min · 65 °C
  3. Mould and salt
Ricotta fresca ed essiccata di capraItaly, Campania

Goat whey ricotta made all over Campania, sold fresh or salted and dried.

Rind
Fresh none, bright white; dried: very thin ivory skin
Size
0.200 kg; truncated cone
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd15–30 min · 65 °C
  3. Mould and salt
  4. Ripen
Ricotta fresca ed essiccata di pecoraItaly, Campania

Ewe whey ricotta sold fresh or salted and dried; same method as the goat version.

Rind
Fresh none, milk-white; dried: very thin ivory skin
Size
0.200 kg; truncated cone
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd15–30 min · 65 °C
  3. Mould and salt
  4. Ripen
Ricotta ibleaItaly, Sicilia

Hyblean cow ricotta made with traditional copper and palm-leaf tools.

Rind
None; ivory, basket-marked
Size
0.5–1.0 kg truncated cone, Ø 10–15 cm; or ~250 g elongated cylinder
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd15–30 min · 65 °C
  3. Mould and salt
Ricotta mantèca di MontellaItaly, Campania

Also called Ricotta di Montella.

Rich ricotta from fat whey enriched with whey cream; buttery taste. Dates to at least the mid-1800s.

Rind
None; pale straw, glossy from the fat
Size
0.5 or 1.0 kg; truncated cone
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curdat least 10 min · 82–85 °C
  3. Mould and salt
Ricotta mistaItaly, Sicilia

Sicilian ricotta from mixed cow, ewe and goat whey; also the base for ricotta salata.

Rind
None; ivory, straw if ewe whey dominates
Size
1.0–1.5 kg; truncated cone
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd15–30 min · 65 °C
  3. Mould and salt
Ricotta ovina di ArischiaItaly, Abruzzo

Also called Ricotta co le ficore.

Ewe whey ricotta whose flocculation is triggered with fig branches, a plant coagulant rarely used for ricotta.

Rind
None; rough, basket marks; pale straw-yellow paste
Size
0.5–2.0 kg; Ø ≤ 18 cm, height ≤ 11 cm
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd65 °C
  3. Mould and salt
Ricotta Romana PDOLazio
Milk
sheep milk, whey
Ripening
fresh

Made like Whey cheese (heat-precipitated whey protein) family.

Ricotta salataSicily/Sardinia

pressed, salted, dried

Milk
sheep milk, whey
Ripening
~3 mo

Made like Whey cheese (heat-precipitated whey protein) family.

Ricotta SchotteItaly, Sappada

Also called Schotte Kneidilam, Gelelchtschotte, Saurnschotte.

Sappada whey cheese made two ways; Saurnschotte combines it with local tarragon.

Rind
None; classic brown surface, fresh white with green tarragon flecks
Size
Small cylinder or pear, about 0.300 kg
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd80 °C
  3. Mould and salt
  4. Ripen
Ricotta seccaItaly, Lazio

Salted, dried ricotta hard enough to grate; shape varies by district.

Rind
Clean or treated; white to straw-yellow
Size
0.100–0.250 kg (Valle di Comino, Ausoni, Aurunci) or 0.100–0.700 kg (Laga, Sabina); cylinder with side, tubular cylinder, or truncated cone by area
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd87–90 °C
  3. Mould and salt
  4. Ripen
Ricotta vaccina fresca dell'Emilia-RomagnaItaly, Emilia-Romagna

Also called Puina, Puvina.

Cow-whey ricotta from Parmigiano Reggiano dairies, made after the grana in the same rooms.

Rind
None
Size
0.500–2.500 kg; truncated cone, ø 10–17 cm, height 6–12 cm
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curdat least 80 °C
  3. Mould and salt
Ricotta viterbeseItaly, Lazio

Sweet unsalted ewe ricotta from a tradition of Sardinian emigrant and local shepherds about 90 years old; used in sweets and fried tortelli.

Rind
None; white, basket-marked
Size
0.500–1.000 kg; truncated cone
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd83–90 °C
  3. Mould and salt
Ricottone salatoItaly, Calabria

Salted, aged whey ricotta with many local versions (Crotonese, Silano, Locride and others); the PAT covers the Cosenza type made March–November.

Rind
Clean, rough, basket marks; beige to brown
Size
0.5–1.0 kg; Ø 10 cm, length 20 cm
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd
  3. Mould and salt
  4. Ripen
SalignoùnItaly, Valle d'Aosta

Also called saulignoun, salignön.

Walser spiced ricotta, pink from chilli; historically smoked in the chimney hood for keeping.

Rind
None
Size
Loose in bowls, or spheres of about 0.300 kg for smoking
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Mould and salt
  3. Ripen
Seirass del fenItaly, Piemonte

Also called Sarass del fèn, Saras del fèn.

Aged, pressed ricotta wrapped in green mountain hay.

Rind
None when fresh; aged ones get a soft mould film, straw to green-grey
Size
0.700–3.0 kg; rounded ø 10–20 cm, height 10–15 cm
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Mould and salt
  3. Ripen
Seirass di siero di pecoraItaly, Piemonte

Fresh ewe-whey ricotta, sweet with a mild sheep note.

Rind
None; white, slightly wrinkled surface
Size
0.5–3.0 kg
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Mould and salt
  3. Ripen
Seirass stagionatoItaly, Piemonte

Dried, aged ricotta, once the main way ricotta was kept; now rarely made.

Rind
Light greyish mould film, or wrapped in mountain herbs (e.g. wild thyme)
Size
0.5–3.0 kg
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Mould and salt
  3. Ripen
Sérac / séré (Swiss whey cheese, Ziger)Switzerland

Also called sérac, séré (Suisse romande), Ziger, Spendziger (Ferden, VS).

Swiss acid-heat whey cheese; older whole-milk 'sérés' survive in Glarner Schabziger and the Spendziger of Ferden.

  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd90–92 °C
  3. Cut and drain the curd
SérasItaly, Valle d'Aosta

Aosta whey ricotta, slightly sour and salty; hardens with smoking and age.

Rind
None (fresh) or clean (aged)
Size
Square block, 10–20 cm, 0.2–3.0 kg
  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd80–90 °C
  3. Mould and salt
  4. Ripen
Travia da Beira BaixaPortugal, Beira Baixa

Loose, granular sibling of requeijão: the whey flocs are not drained into a shape but kept soft with rescaldão.

  1. Prepare the milk
  2. Set the curd15–30 min · 80–90 °C
  3. Cut and drain the curd
UrdăRomania
Milk
sheep milk, whey
Ripening
fresh

Made like Whey cheese (heat-precipitated whey protein) family.

Xinomyzithra Kritis PDOCrete

sour whey cheese, ripened in skins or barrels

Milk
sheep/goat milk, whey
Ripening
≥2 mo

Made like Whey cheese (heat-precipitated whey protein) family.

Numbers come from cited sources and carry a label that says how each is known. How this atlas is made