Redykołka

Redykołka is a traditional cheese from the Podhale region in Poland. It is a semi-hard, half-fat cheese made primarily from the milk of Polish mountain sheep, with up to 40% cow's milk from Polish red cows. The cheese is known for its unique shapes, such as miniature animals, birds, hearts, or spindles, and weighs between 30 to 300 grams. Redykołka has a glistening straw-colored rind due to the smoking process, and it features a slightly salty taste with a pronounced smoked aroma. The cheese is made from unpasteurized milk and is a seasonal product, produced during the sheep-grazing period. The production process involves traditional methods passed down through generations of shepherds. Redykołka is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product, highlighting its cultural and geographical significance.

Silar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Key Facts

Country of Origin	Poland
Specific Origin	Podhale region
Protection	PDO (2007)
Milk Type	Sheep's milk, up to 40% cow's milk
Milk Treatment	Unpasteurised
Fat Content	Not less than 38% in dry matter
Moisture Content	Not to exceed 44%
Rind	Glistening straw color, smooth and elastic, may be slightly rough
Texture	Elastic and slightly hard
Flavor	Slightly salty
Aroma	Smoked
Colors	Glistening straw color, pale brown with a slight sheen
Forms	Miniature animals, birds, hearts, spindles
Age	3-7 days of smoking