Pule cheese, a Serbian specialty, boasts a unique origin story and a hefty price tag. Unlike most cheeses, pule is crafted from donkey milk, making it incredibly rare. This article explores the fascinating world of pule cheese, from its production process to its potential health benefits.
A Balkan Donkeys Rarity
Made from the milk of Balkan donkeys, pule cheese has a crumbly texture and a white color. It’s produced in the Zasavica Special Nature Reserve, located about 80 kilometers from Belgrade. Here, a herd of roughly 100 endangered Balkan donkeys are hand-milked to create this cheese. The reserve uses the proceeds from pule sales, priced at $1700 per kilogram, to fund conservation efforts for this donkey breed.
Why Pule Cheese with High Cost?
The rarity and difficulty of producing pule cheese explain its exorbitant price. Around 25 liters of donkey milk are required for just one kilogram of cheese. Additionally, donkeys produce significantly less milk compared to cows, with each jenny yielding only 0.2 liters daily. The milking process itself is manual due to the lack of milking machines suitable for donkeys.
Slobodan Simić, the cheesemaker behind pule, is the sole producer in the world. The limited availability of donkey milk and the labor-intensive milking process contribute to the high cost of this cheese.
Nutritional Powerhouse
Despite containing only 1% milk fat, pule boasts 60 times the vitamin C content of cow milk. Milk is generally considered a healthy food source due to its vitamins, minerals, and protein content. Cheese made from milk concentrates these nutrients further, offering a good source of healthy fats and protein for cell repair and overall health.
Donkey Milk: Potential Health Benefits
Pule cheese, made from donkey milk, may offer a range of potential health benefits:
Enhanced Nutrition: Donkey milk is believed to be 60% more nutritious than cow or goat milk, containing various vitamins that aid in healing.
Improved Cholesterol: Donkey milk’s low-fat content makes it beneficial for lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It also contains fewer saturated fats and more good fats, like polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, which can help reduce bad cholesterol and prevent plaque buildup in arteries.
Reduced Allergies: Donkey milk’s anti-allergic properties may help manage allergies like asthma, dermatitis, and bronchitis. Consuming pule cheese or donkey milk may potentially boost the immune system’s response to allergens, alleviating symptoms like coughing, rashes, and congestion.
Antioxidant Power: Donkey milk’s high vitamin C content acts as an antioxidant, potentially protecting organs and tissues from damage caused by pollutants and free radicals. Vitamin C’s anti-inflammatory properties may also help reduce the risk of autoimmune diseases.
A Unique Serbian Treasure
Pule cheese is a testament to Serbia’s dedication to preserving its endangered Balkan donkeys. This rare cheese offers a unique culinary experience while potentially providing a range of health benefits.
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[…] Pule cheese has a fascinating backstory that most people are unfamiliar with. This cheese is the rarest in the world because it is manufactured from donkey milk. With the exception of a few high-end eateries, this pricey cheese is rarely sold commercially. My goal was to tell the tale of pule cheese to people who are interested in learning more about lesser-known fermented foods, as well as those looking for a unique cuisine experience when travelling. Consider visiting Zavasica nature reserve and tasting Balkan donkey cheese, the world’s rarest variety of cheese, if you ever travel to the Balkans, particularly Serbia. […]