Năsal cheese facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Năsal |
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| Country of origin | Romania |
| Region | Cluj county |
| Town | Năsal |
| Source of milk | Cow |
| Pasteurised | Traditionally, no |
| Texture | Sweet |
| Named after | Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 70: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
Năsal is a special kind of cheese from Romania. It gets its name from the small village of Năsal in Țaga commune, Cluj County, where it's made. This cheese is known as a smear-ripened cheese, and it's created using milk from cows.
What makes Năsal cheese so unique is how it's made. It comes from a natural cave, which has been used for making cheese since the Middle Ages! The cave's special conditions, like its constant temperature and humidity, and a specific type of bacteria called Brevibacterium linens, give the cheese its amazing taste and texture.
The Brevibacterium linens bacteria is very important for Năsal cheese. It helps the cheese ripen and develop its distinct flavor and reddish-yellow color. This same type of bacteria is also used to make other famous cheeses like Limburger and Port-du-Salut.
The Story of Năsal Cheese
How Năsal Cheese Began
The history of Năsal cheese goes back to the 1800s. A man named Schilling János, who was an architect, bought a farm in Năsal. He, or perhaps his son Schilling Ottó, started making cheese in the farm's cellars. This cheese quickly became very popular in the Transylvania region. It even won a gold medal at the Paris World Expo in 1900!
Later, in 1948, the farm became owned by the government. A smaller cheese factory was then built in the village in 1954, continuing the tradition of making Năsal cheese.
The Legend of the Cave Cheese
There's a fun legend about how Năsal cheese got its special taste. The story says that long ago, the village of Năsal was ruled by a very strict count. Some farmers, who were very hungry, secretly took pieces of his cheese for their children. They hid the cheese in a cave near the village and didn't go back for it right away.
Weeks passed, and one day a villager finally went into the cave. He expected the cheese to be spoiled, but to his surprise, it looked good! The cheese had changed to a reddish-yellow color, and even though it had a strong smell, it tasted delicious.
When the count found out, he punished the farmers. But he was so impressed by the cheese from the cave that he started serving it to all his important guests. Soon, he began storing all his cheeses in that very same cave, making Năsal cheese famous for its unique flavor.
