Džiugas

Džiugas is a cheese from Lithuania, recognized as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) product. It is made from cow's milk that is standardized, pasteurized, and curdled with enzymes. The cheese is produced only from milk obtained during the grazing period, which enhances its organoleptic and microbiological qualities. Džiugas cheese is known for its long maturation process, which can range from 12 to 120 months. The cheese has a rich, sweet yet sharp taste and a hard texture that becomes crunchier with age. It is produced in the Telšiai City civil parish in north-western Lithuania. Džiugas cheese has gained a good reputation both locally and internationally, winning numerous awards and being recognized as a symbolic Lithuanian food product.

MOs810, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Key Facts

Country of Origin	Lithuania
Specific Origin	Telšiai City civil parish, Telšiai District, Samogitian Uplands, north-western Lithuania
Protection	PGI (2017)
Milk Type	Cow's milk
Milk Treatment	Standardised and pasteurised
Fat Content	40 ± 3% of the cheese’s dry matter
Moisture Content	34 ± 3%
Texture	Hard but breaks easily; becomes harder and contains more crunchy crystals with age
Flavor	Rich, sweet yet sharp taste
Aroma	Subtly fresh, with an aroma of lactic acid and dried cheese
Colors	Varies with age; ranges from creamy/yellowish to deep yellow with reddish-yellow or orange tinges
Forms	Flat cylindrical cheese wheel
Age	12 to 120 months
Rennet Type	Enzyme of microbiological origin