{"id":1282,"date":"2022-05-04T11:03:02","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T09:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.noratech.it\/vallibitto\/mascherpa\/"},"modified":"2023-08-03T21:05:45","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T19:05:45","slug":"mascherpa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/storicoribelle.com\/en\/mascherpa\/","title":{"rendered":"Masch\u00e8rpa"},"content":{"rendered":"

Masch\u00e8rpa<\/h1>\n

Masch\u00e8rpa cheese
production<\/h2>\n
\n

Masch\u00e8rpa is the traditional ricotta cheese made in the alpine pastures, using the whey from the production of Storico. The whey (called lazzel\u00f9n\/ser\u00f9n) that is left in the cauldron (culd\u00e9ra) is warmed to 60-65\u00b0 C. Once this temperature is reached, 10% freshly milked goat\u2019s milk is added. The acidifying agent is added when the temperature, regularly measured, reaches 85-90\u00b0C.<\/span><\/p>\n

The secret to success is to guess the right moment in which to add the acidifying agent. Before thermometers, the cheesemaker would bang the bottom of the cauldron with a stick and, from the sound produced, know when the moment was right.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Making process<\/h3>\n
\n

The temperature at which to add the acidifying agent is a critical element of ricotta cheesemaking: if it is too low the curds don\u2019t form\u037e if it\u2019s too high the masch\u00e8rpa tastes \u201ccooked\u201d. It\u2019s important to add the acidifying agent in one quick and decisive motion, as this is the only way in which the curds form properly and float to the surface into a solid white layer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the acidifying agent has been added and the curds have formed the top layer, the masch\u00e8rpa is taken out of the cauldron using a copper skimmer (c\u00e0spsula). The compact curds are placed in wooden sievelike containers that are 40-60 cm tall and 25-30 cm wide. These containers are called garocc and are today often replaced by plastic ones. The remaining \u201csecond whey\u201d left in the cauldron is called sc\u00f2cia and is used to wash equipment before being fed to calves or pigs.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"ricotta\"<\/p>\n

\n

Methods of the past<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

In the past the acidifying agent used was a substance called agra. Agra is a very acid liquid made from sc\u00f2cia (the \u201csecond whey\u201d from the making of ricotta cheese). The sc\u00f2cia was acidified by adding alum, gentian root, juniper, dried prunes, unripe fruit, vinegar and sorrel leaves. This mixture was left in the sun in a wooden bucket for days and was usually made from a sc\u00f2cia from a successful ricotta cheese production, which had to be pale green and clear.<\/span><\/p>\n

The wooden containers used to drain masch\u00e8rpa are called garocc (singular garot) and are a very characteristic element.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The masch\u00e8rpa that has been placed in the garocc and kept on a tilted work surface called spres\u00f9n, is left to drain for up to 24 hours and is then ready for consumption. The cheeses that are to be salted are drained for 3-4 days.<\/span><\/p>\n

Salting occurs on both sides of the cheese. After a few days, when the cheeses are firmer, they are placed on scalere (shelves) in the ripening area of the dairy: the mascherp\u00e8ra, found on the upper floor of the alpine cellar.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"salatura<\/p>\n

\n

Masch\u00e8rpa Ageing<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

After a few weeks the masch\u00e8rpa becomes coated with a light brown mold (we say it \u201cflowers\u201d) that is regularly cleaned whenever the cheeses are turned. The masch\u00e8rpa loses a lot of weight during ripening, becomes firmer and develops a strong taste.<\/span><\/p>\n

After a few months of ripening it can be grated on various dishes.<\/span> Masch\u00e8rpa is not easy to keep, and mature masch\u00e8rpa is considered a valuable product because it requires much care, and because not all the cheeses are good enough for this process, and only the best are selected.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"bitto<\/p>\n

FIND OUT MORE<\/h5>\n