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Hirtenkäse is a traditionally handmade product of the Allgäu mountain region in the south of Germany. This majestic cheese is rustic, savory and firm textured. It is an authentic mountain cheese with a rugged, earthy aroma.

The rich cow's milk for Hirtenkäse comes from mountain farmers. Their cows graze in elevations of at least 2600 feet. The farmers have only about 12 to 15 cows per farm, and each one is well cared for. These pampered cows enjoy the fragrant grasses on alpine meadows in the summer and spend the winters in their cozy barn, eating aromatic hay. This humane, loving treatment results in wonderful, rich milk that makes a spectacular cheese.

In mid-September there is a big festival in the Allgäu called the "Viehscheid". A "lead cow" is decorated with flowers and all the region's cows are herded down from the mountains to their barns. That's where the name Hirtenkäse comes from. It is German for "cow shepherd's cheese". Hirtenkäse won two gold medals at the World Cheese Awards in London, England in 2005.

• Made from pasteurized cow's milk.
• Photo depicts whole 15 lb. form of cheese.
• We cut and wrap this item by the 1/2 pound.
• Please contact us if you would like to purchase the whole form.