Slovenský oštiepok

Slovenský oštiepok is a traditional cheese from Slovakia. It is a half-fat, semi-hard cheese that can be either steamed or unsteamed, and smoked or unsmoked. The cheese is made from sheep's milk, a mixture of sheep's and cow's milk, or cow's milk. It is produced in the mountainous regions of Slovakia, either on small-scale farms or in dairies. The cheese is known for its unique shape, resembling a large egg, pine cone, or ellipsoid, often with decorative patterns. Slovenský oštiepok has a savory, mildly piquant to sour flavor, with a smoky aroma if smoked. It has been produced since at least the 18th century and is protected as a geographical indication in the European Union.

See page for author, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Key Facts

Country of Origin	Slovakia
Specific Origin	Mountainous regions of the Slovak Republic
Protection	PGI (2006)
Milk Type	Sheep's milk, mixture of sheep's and cow's milk, or cow's milk
Milk Treatment	Pasteurisation (for industrial production)
Fat Content	Minimum of 38.0% fat in dry matter by weight
Texture	Solid, firm, slightly fragile, with minor cracks and cavities
Flavor	Savory, mildly piquant to sour, moderately salty
Aroma	Typical smoky aroma if smoked
Colors	Golden-yellow to golden-brown on the outside after smoking, white to buttery-yellow on the inside
Forms	Large egg, pine cone, ellipsoid with decoration