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Come conservare la Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP?
Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP is a quality product of Made in Italy foods, produced exclusively using whole fresh milk from the breed of Italian Mediterranean buffalos bred and raised in their area of origin.
Why does Mozzarella di Bufala Campana have a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) [DOP]?
Because the European Union has recognised the special organoleptic and commodity-related characteristics of the Mozzarella di Bufala Campana which are the result of the precise environmental conditions and traditional manufacturing methods that exist solely in the DOP production area.
Only those dairies that complete the demanding certification journey are awarded the DOP. Those producers who already possess the designation of origin are monitored by means of continuous controls and analyses in order to guarantee:
The word “mozzarella” derives from the verb to “mozzare” – to cut off -, an ancient practice still used today in all the dairies and which consists of shaping the piece of stretched curd with the hands and detaching – or cutting off – the individual mozzarellas using the thumb and index finger. This is the way the typical rounded forms of this uniquely flavoured diary product are obtained.
The DOP Mozzarella di Bufala Campana cheese, must, by law (Legislative Decree 109/92, art. 23), be sold exclusively in packaging created in its place of origin (heat-sealed bags, trays, cups, etc.).
Each package must contain the following information:
Should the packaging have a different name (e.g. “Mozzarella di Bufala”, “Mozzarella di Latte di Bufala”, “Mozzarella bufalina”, etc.), the product DOES NOT possess the DOP certification. Such names ARE NOT PERMITTED by law.
Where the packaging is a knotted bag, there must be a guarantee seal that has been applied by the manufacturer above the knot. Mozzarellas in packages without a seal can easily be replaced with non-DOP products.
Knowing how to read the label on a Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP package is fundamental for choosing the right product and avoiding imitations. It is important to find on the package:
this consists of a stylised buffalo head on a green field below and a sun with red rays above.
consists of a yellow and red sun inside which are written the words Denominazione di Origine Protetta
The EC mark, commonly called the health mark, is an alphanumeric code that identifies a production plant in an unequivocal manner. It is provided by the Department for Health and consists of 7 characters which must be
However, the most recent health marks have a different format with letters and numbers. These now a total of 5 characters: e.g. x1y2z
buffalo milk; natural whey starter; rennet and salt. The natural whey starter may not necessarily be cited on the package. However, the buffalo milk may be indicated with further specifications such as, for example, “pasteurised”.
it may be the case that one dairy produces for another company who places their brand on the packaging (third party production). In order to know whether the mozzarella you have bought is a genuine Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP, you should read carefully the information relating to the production site and then compare it with the official list of production plants recognised by the Italian Department of Health in accordance with Reg. (CE) 853/2004 or compare the authorisation number on the package with the one you can read next to each production plant in the Members section on this website
A Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP can be immediately recognised by its characteristics
On cutting:
The taste of a Mozzarella di Bufala DOP is always both robust and delicate at one and the same time. Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP always gifts us the experience of an unmistakeable flavour.
The most classic form of a Mozzarella di Bufala is round with individual sizes that vary from 10 g (perlina, ciliegina ovolina, bocconcino) to 800 g. Nonetheless, the regulations allow for other shapes that are typical in the area of production such as knots and plaits that can weigh up to 3 kg.
