Formaggio Kitchen

Försterkäse Krümmenswil

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Country of Origin: Switzerland
Region: Krummenswil
City / Village: Toggenburg
Type of Milk: Cow
Cheese Style: Washed Rind
Flavor Profile: Stinky

This is one of the several cheeses we are proud to add to our collection of Swiss cheeses. For some time, we have been hoping to find a source for artisanal cheeses from Switzerland. In 2004 Ihsan, Valerie and Archer visited the cheese festival in Bra and were lucky enough to finally sit down with Konrad Heusser. They tasted more than 20 cheeses with Konrad all washed down with rich amber ales from the nearby British tables. Thus began what has turned out to be a very fruitful relationship. In the winter of 2005, Ihsan took a quick, but valuable trip to Zurich to taste more cheese and to personally select the wheels we would import. The cheeses he selected are all from smaller producers, typically made using uncooked milk from animals that have eaten from the pastures during the warmer months. These cheeses have a flavor that is notably deeper than their more common counterparts.

The "Försterchäs" from Krümmenswil is another example of a breakaway cheesemaker. Ernst Dirriwächter developed this lovely cheese together with the farmers in his area. In developing a new cheese, they wanted to be sure that they took advantage of all the merits of their Toggenberg region - not only the milk producers but also the woodworkers, who cut the wooden rind that binds the cheese. This washed-rind cow's milk cheese has a brick-red rind and a more pronounced aroma and flavor than its compatriot Vacherin Mont d'Or.