Published 20:42 IST, June 28th 2019
Must Know: The many reasons why Serbia's Donkey cheese is among the costliest in the world
Serbia, the country that is famous for its Brandy and star tennis player Novak Djokovic now has the potential to get famous for its one-of-a-kind donkey cheese. This unique donkey cheese is not only dense, tasty and rich in flavour but is also really good for your health.
Serbia, a country that is famous for its brandy and star tennis player Novak Djokovic, now has the potential to get famous for its one-of-a-kind donkey cheese. This unique donkey cheese is said to not only be dense, tasty and rich in flavour but also really good for your health.
The almost omnipotent cheese is utopian only until one hears how much it costs, however. Each kilo of this donkey cheese costs 1,000 euros (approximately Rs 78,000), making it one of the most expensive cheese in the world in a very competitive market.
The maker of this cheese, Slobodan Simic and his team, have been making this cheese since 2012. Their herd has about 200 donkeys who live on a nature reserve in northern Serbia called Zasavica.
A staff member at Zasavica discovered that portions of donkey milk could be mixed with some from goats in order to craft the crumbly mounds of cheese. Since donkeys produce less than a litre of milk a day; a fraction of the 40 litres a cow can provide, this mixture also helps make up for the shortfall.
The properties of this milk are similar to those of human breastmilk and are touted by Simic as a cure for a range of ailments, including asthma and bronchitis. According to what the maker Simic said to global media, a human baby can take this milk from the first day, without having it diluted.
While a lack of scientific backing makes it difficult to assess its health properties, the milk is high in protein and has been recognized by the UN as a good alternative for those who are allergic to cow's milk. It also is anti-inflammatory and hypoallergenic and has many benefits from its vitamins, probiotics and other elements.
Simic's farm sells between six to fifteen kilos of cheese a year, mainly to foreigners and tourists who visit. They also produce donkey milk soap and liquor.
Updated 21:17 IST, June 28th 2019