Our Dairy
If I'm allergic to cow milk, or lactose intolerant, can I drink goat milk?
All natural mammal-based milks (cow, goat, even human) contain lactose – the key sugar. However, many who are lactose intolerant, are able to tolerate goat milk because it is easier for the stomach to digest. Goat milk does contain small amounts of the key protein like cow milk to which many people are allergic. If you are sensitive to this protein, goat milk may be well tolerated. Always check with your doctor prior to using or drinking goat milk.
Is your milk certified as organic?
Our goat milk is free of free of antibiotics, pesticides, preservatives and bovine growth hormones (BGH). However, our farm and creamery are not certified as organic.
What is rennet?
Rennet is a milk coagulant made from the stomach lining or vells of calves when they are harvested for meat. The vells are dried, powdered, and usually reconstituted in water to produce liquid rennet. It is the most ancient, traditional, and expensive coagulant available to cheesemakers, and considered by many to be the best. It is less prone to produce bitter flavors than vegetable or modified coagulants. This being said some of our cheeses use vegetable or microbial rennet as required by certain recipes.
topIs a lemony, acidic flavor typical only of all goat cheeses?
No. It's typical only of the fresh cheeses which coagulate slowly and produce more lactic acids. This particular flavor profile is characteristic of all fermented milks or cheeses (cottage cheese, yogurt, fromage frais) made in this way, from any species.
topWhy are goat cheeses different in flavor than cow milk cheeses?
The overall fat content of each cheese is very similar. Goat's milk has a higher proportion of medium-chain fatty acids such as caproic, caprylic, and capric acid. This accounts for the tart taste. The strong flavor is also caused by hormones. The milk is influenced by what the goat eats, and because of their strong digestive systems, goats tend to eat more bitter plants than cows. The flavor of goat cheese does range from very strong and pungent to mild and subtle. Aging the cheese will intensify the flavor.
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