Top 17 Water Buffalo's Milk Cheeses
in the World

Caseificio Barlotti is a family-run dairy with a rich tradition dating back to the early 1900s, located in Paestum, in the Campania region of Italy. The Barlotti family has been raising buffalo and producing dairy products for five generations.

This artisanal cheese producer uses milk from their own herd of Italian Mediterranean buffalo, ensuring control over the entire production process from feeding the buffalo to cheese making. Caseificio Barlotti is best known for its Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP, but also offers a wide range of other buffalo milk products.

Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the farm and production facilities, as well as tastings of their fresh products.Expand

Caseificio dell’Alta Langa is a renowned dairy located in the heart of Piedmont, in the town of Bosia. The dairy stands out for its dedication to authenticity, local ingredients, and meticulous artisanal craftsmanship.

Their cheeses are made exclusively from fresh milk sourced from nearby farms, using cow’s, goat’s, and sheep’s milk - often blended to achieve depth and complexity of flavor. The product range includes both fresh and aged cheeses, featuring specialties such as Bocconcini, Robiole, La Losa, all highly regarded for their creamy texture, rich aroma, and full-bodied taste.

All products are made without the use of preservatives, in full respect of natural fermentation and aging processes. Caseificio dell’Alta Langa successfully combines tradition with modern techniques, creating distinctive cheeses that have won over both local and international markets.Expand

Though there are many buffalo mozzarella cheeses made with a combination of buffalo and cow's milk, to be labeled as such, the genuine mozzarella di bufala campana must be made from 100% domestic water buffalo milk and produced either in Campania or the neighboring Lazio, Apulia and Molise regions. Buffalo milk is known to be higher in calcium and protein while lower in cholesterol, which makes this mozzarella cheese particularly prized and sought after. Buffalo mozzarella always comes packaged in brine; it has a mild yet slightly sour taste, and goes well with various Italian antipasti dishes, especially with classics like the Caprese salad.Expand

Stracciatella is a traditional cheese hailing from Puglia. This cheese is actually the inside of the burrata, made from shredded threads of mozzarella di bufala (sfilacci, made from water buffalo's milk) that are mixed with fresh cream. The texture is silky, buttery, almost runny, and creamy, while the flavors are fresh, milky, and slightly acidic. Stracciatella is very versatile, and due to its mild flavors it can be served with almost anything – from pastas and risottos to pizzas and bruschettas.Expand

Ricotta di Bufala Campana is a product obtained through the processing of the 'first whey' (sweet) obtained in the cheese-making process which uses milk from the Mediterranea Italiana buffalo breed. The production area is within the provinces of Benevento, Caserta, Naples and Salerno in Campania; the provinces of Frosinone, Latina and Rome in the Lazio region; the Province of Foggia in the Apulia region and Isernia in the Molise region. Since the arrival of buffalo in Southern Italy in the XVI century, the production of Ricotta di Bufala Campana and Mozzarella di Bufala Campana has been very closely linked. Ricotta di Bufala Campana is different from other ricotta cheeses due to its creamy consistency, softness, color and sweet milky aromas, characteristics which are given to the fact that buffalo whey is richer in fats and free from lipase, an enzyme that can influence the sensory properties of fat. The ricotta is porcelain white, rindless, with a grainy but not sandy consistency that is soft and creamy. The flavor is characteristic, fresh and slightly sweet, whilst the aroma is reminiscent of milk and cream. It can be eaten on its own or used as an ingredient in many recipes and stuffed dishes. The product is generally used to prepare local sweet and savory dishes from the Neapolitan cuisine. Amongst the most famous recipes, there is the Pastiera Napoletana, a typical Easter cake.Expand

Mozzarella is a fresh, soft, stretched curd cheese, made with whole cow's milk. Due to the fact that it has a fragrant aroma of fresh milk and a delicate creamy flavor, mozzarella is traditionally paired with light white wines. This Italian classic originates from the region of Campania, but nowadays it is produced all across the country. The cheese is made with water buffalo's milk or cow's milk, when it's often referred to as mozzarella fior di latte (in order to distinguish it from water buffalo milk mozzarella). The ancient tradition of making mozzarella cheese dates back to the 4th century BCE, however, the first official reference to its name was found in a 1570 cookery book by Bartolomeo Scappi, a famous Renaissance chef. It is an excellent table cheese used for preparing a number of different dishes and the essential ingredient of the caprese salad and the famous pizza napoletana.Expand

Ciliegine is a traditional type of mozzarella cheese. It consists of small and smooth white balls of mozzarella that's made with pasteurized cow's milk, or sometimes with water buffalo's milk. Ciliegine are just a bit smaller than bocconcini, another type of mozzarella balls that can often be used interchangeably with ciliegine. The texture is soft, spongy, and elastic, while the flavors are mild, delicate, fresh, and milky. These small mozzarella balls are typically sold in their own brine and used in various salads and appetizers. The name ciliegine is derived from the Italian word for cherry, referring to the size of the cheese.Expand

Bocconcini is an Italian cheese originating from Campania. It is a mozzarella-type cheese that is roughly the size of an egg, made with water buffalo's milk or a combination of buffalo's and cow's milk. These rindless small balls are semi-soft, creamy, elastic and springy in texture, while the flavors are mild, buttery, and slightly sweet. The name bocconcini means little bites in Italian, referring to the shape and form of the cheese. It is recommended to consume it fresh or use it on pizzas or vegetable-based dishes. Pair it with white wines.Expand

Stracchino di crescenza is an Italian cheese that is typically made with cow's milk, but it can also be made with water buffalo's milk. The texture of stracchino is creamy and buttery, so it's often used as a spread. The flavors are mild, fruity, creamy, and sweet. Although it is nowadays associated with the regions of Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria, and Veneto, it was first produced in Lombardy's Po valley. It's recommended to serve stracchino with fresh fruit or cold cuts and pair it with a glass of fruity white wine. The cheese can also be used on pizza, combined with pasta, or used as a topping for warm polenta. The name stracchino is derived from the word stracca, meaning tired, referring to the tired cows who move up and down the Alps and produce very rich milk that is ideal for the production of this cheese.Expand

Ricotta di bufala is an Italian cheese made from full-fat water buffalo's milk and the whey from mozzarella di bufala. The texture is firm, fluffy, creamy, and grainy. The aromas are rich and fresh, while the flavors are subtle and slightly sweet. The mouthfeel is creamy, smooth, bitter-sweet, and citrusy. This cheese is ideal for desserts such as cheesecakes and cannoli. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of sparkling wine.Expand

Treccia is a traditional mozzarella-style cheese. This mozzarella variation is characterized by its braided shape and shiny surface. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk or sometimes with water buffalo's milk. The texture is stringy, elastic, and soft, while the flavors are fresh, delicate, and milky. The cheese is typically sold in its own brine. Treccia di mozzarella is often enjoyed on its own or served with cold cuts and fresh vegetables. Expand

Paneer is a moist fresh cheese with a soft and crumbly texture, made from pasteurized cow's milk or water buffalo's milk. Unlike most cheeses, paneer does not involve rennet in the production process, and that is what makes it completely vegetarian. It has origins in India and Bangladesh, and has been mentioned in the Vedas, dating back to 6000 BC. Its name comes from the Persian and Turkish word for cheese, peynir. This cheese is often used in curries, especially in the north of India, and pairs well with strong and spicy flavors. Paneer is also incorporated in a variety of other Indian dishes such as saag paneer (spinach), shahi paneer (cream, tomatoes, and spices), and the famous mattar paneer (peas and tomatoes). This cheese is so versatile that it's even used in kebabs. Its softer, more crumbly version called chenna is often used to make a variety of popular desserts such as rasgulla and sandesh.Expand