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More Info
Farm Cheese or Boerenkaas is a unique product. It is made with 'farm fresh' milk, giving the cheese its unusual flavour. The character of the cheese differs from farm to farm; the type of grass, the breed of cow and the manufacturing process can all be tasted in the different cheeses.Cheesemaking is an old 'craft' which is still done on the farm. It is a tradition that is usually passed on from mother to daughter and as a result there have been very few changes in the process throughout the centuries. The cheesemaking process is still based on the principle that solids have to be separated from liquids. Although the process has not been modernized, technology now assists with the heavier work. For instance heavy buckets of milk no longer have to be poured into the tub; rather milk is 'pumped' from the cooling tank into the tub. However, the work of filling the molds with curd, salting the cheeses after pressing, and care of the cheese after making them, still has to be done by hand. In 1990 Annelies van Gaalen immigrated from one of Holland's big cities to Skeerpoort, a small farming community in the Hartebeespoortdam area. Living in the peace and quiet of the countryside, she soon realised that it was the ideal setting to begin making cheese like her Dutch "voorvaders'. It started out as a hobby, but as the demand for Boerenkaas grew, it soon became a successful business. In the van Gaalen Kaasmakerij, Boerenkaas is made on a small scale according to Dutch traditions. For every kilogram of cheese, 10 litres of milk (supplied from neighbouring farms) are used. Annelies uses traditional Dutch recipes and her range consists of more than 30 different cheeses at present. The cheese is matured in large walk in fridges adjoining the 'Kaasmakerij'. Most cheeses are sold on the farm. Tours around the 'van Gaalen Kaasmakerij' are an interesting experience. Annelies combines a demonstration of the cheesemaking process with a special Dutch cheese tasting on the farm. Mature and semi-mature cheese is available to both cheese lovers and serious buyers. Tours cater for all ages and are offered in English, Afrikaans, German and Dutch. Schools, businesses, clubs and tourists are all welcome, as the tour is both educational, enjoyable, and fun for everybody. Tours and Picnic's are arranged by appointment only. Annelies may be contacted on tel: 012 207 1289; fax: 012 207 1262 The farm also has functions and wedding facilities and a "cheese restaurant with a lovely view. |
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