Description
The Hessischer Handkäse PGI is a low-fat, curdled cow's milk-based cheese.
Production Area
The production area of Hessischer Handkäse PGI covers the entire federal state of Hesse.
Production Method
The first phase of the production process consists of cutting the quark parts of acid milk and then to mix it. Then seasoning salts and salt are added, in some cases also cumin and, to obtain the Rotschmierkäse variants with or without moulds, specific ingredients and bacterial cultures have also to be added. Now the cheeses are ready to be put in moulds and ripened for 2-3 days in rooms with a growing temperature (18°C in the first phase and 30°C in the final phase). When the right level of ripening is achieved, packaging has to take place only directly in the production factory: indeed, during transport the product could lose its organoleptic characteristics.
Appearance and Flavour
Hessischer Handkäse PGI is the size of a hand's palm and has the shape of a cake. The weight spans from 20 gr to 125 gr. The Rotschmierkäse type with yellow dough has a very smooth and polished surface with a colour going from gold-yellow to brown-red, whilst the internal dough is yellowish-white in colour, with a soft but compact consistency. The aroma is strong and the taste spicy. In the Rotschmierkäse variant with yellow dough and moulds, the rind is yellow in colour with an uneven layer of moulds, whilst the dough is yellowish-white, with soft consistency and a sweet or lightly aromatic flavour.
History
The production of Hessischer Handkäse PGI boasts ancient roots based on the tradition of the farmers from the Land of Hesse. Indeed, this cheese has ever been a fundamental food for the local population, who had limited means and resources. One of the first documents which mentions its production and sale on the market is dated back to 1813. At the beginning hand-moulded, in 1893 Peter Traiser II designed a dedicated machine incrementing its production and making this cheese well-known also out of the region.
Gastronomy
Hessischer Handkäse PGI has to be stored in the least cold compartment of refrigerator. It can be eaten alone, as an aperitif or a snack, but it can also be used to prepare different traditional recipes. One of the most famous and appreciated dishes of the Land of Hesse is surely the so-called Handkäs mit Musik, where the cheese is tasted with a marinade of onions, oil and vinegar.
Marketing
The product is sold as Hessischer Handkäse PGI, in the Rotschmierkäse types with yellow dough, with or without moulds.
Distinctive Features
Hessischer Handkäse PGI is still made by means of a process which could be defined traditional and hand-crafted, since the selection and mix of raw materials is made by experts who guarantee its quality and homogeneity.
