Whether in its purest form or processed into South Tyrolean specialities, milk and dairy products with the South Tyrolean seal of quality are not only healthy, they also taste exceptionally good. This is thanks to the products’ place of origin in our mountains, as well as to the welfare of the animals, sustainability and purity.
What would South Tyrol be without our tasty milk and the many delicious dishes that are produced from it here? We create the best yogurts in all variations as well as tender butter, mozzarella and spicy mountain cheese. Quality tested and genuine.
Our unique South Tyrolean milk is freshly milked every day at our mountain farms . It comes from the 4,500 or so family farms, which have an average of 15 cows and 8 calves each. Within 24 hours, the milk is taken to one of the nine dairies in South Tyrol, where it is carefully processed into mozzarella, yoghurt, cheese and many other dairy products bearing the South Tyrolean seal of quality.
The one-of-a-kind taste of our milk is due in no small part to appropriate livestock farming methods, the small-scale structure of the farms, and natural feed free from genetic engineering. Our high-quality dairy products are also recognisable with the South Tyrolean seal of quality. Stilfser cheese even bears the seal of protected designation of origin (PDO)! Both seals stand for above-average quality, regional production and strict production controls. Are you already familiar with hay milk? The traditional method by which this milk variety is made is amongst the most original forms of milk production. As in decades past, the feeding schedule of the cows is adapted to the seasons. Learn more about milk production and farm life on the Alpine pasture, for example, on the Milk Trail to the Fane Alm Alpine farm near Brixen/Bressanone. In addition, every two years the Sarntal valley near Bolzano/Bozen invites guests to take part in the Milk Festival with tastings, entertainment and valuable tips on the subject of milk.
Because in South Tyrol we are so proud of our milk and dairy products and have so much to say about them, we invite you to learn more and sample our specialities. Opportunities include themed hikes, museum visits or a milk bath as enjoyed during the days Empress Sissi.
In our alpine-mediterranean cuisine butter, cream, cheese and yogurt are pleasantly used. Be thrilled for many good recipes and unique moments of pleasure with homemade cakes, farmer's dishes like the muas, starters and desserts.
South Tyrol is a natural paradise and our South Tyrolean mountain farm milk plays a big part in this.
Our farmers endeavour to ensure the sustainable development of South Tyrolean agriculture. Animal welfare takes centre stage: healthy and productive animals guarantee the production of high-quality milk, and the mountain pastures on which the cattle graze have always been an important element of South Tyrolean dairy farming. Up to 80 different plant species grow on the alpine meadows, which are protected from scrub encroachment by the management of South Tyrolean dairy farmers. South Tyrol is also home to some endangered cow breeds such as the grey cattle, the Pinzgauer and the Pustertaler Sprinzen breeds. Many dairy farms also rely on green energy such as solar and hydro power to minimise their environmental footprint. The preservation of rural culture and the conservation of historical monuments are firmly anchored in South Tyrol. Traditional farms and farmed alpine pastures have been a feature of the landscape for centuries. Solidarity and voluntary work in cooperatives strengthen the community and promote social interaction. In this way, the South Tyrolean dairy industry harmoniously combines tradition, innovation and sustainability.
Authentically produced, protected and recognised
Do you know why hay milk is so named? Because the feeding schedule of dairy cows is adapted to the seasons. In summer, the cows graze on the pasture. In winter, there is hay and grain meal. For this reason, we also refer to this as the most original way of producing milk in harmony with nature. This aspect plays a vital role. Why? Because the farmers promote biodiversity through this form of meadow management and thus preserve South Tyrol’s intact Alpine landscape.
A South Tyrolean Ambassador with plenty of character
Since 2007, Stilfser cheese has played an important role in our local cheese range as the only cheese to be awarded the protected designation of origin, PDO. After all, this designation stands for genuine quality, authenticity and the historical relationship with its area of origin. Not only does it pamper our palates with its inimitable spicy, milky taste and delicate melting, its connection to South Tyrol also makes it unique.
Grey cheese from the Ahrntal valley is the story of meagre existence in the mountains. Today it is a vital part of local cheese culture.
This cheese, which is so popular today, consists solely of the skimmed milk that was once left over from the butter-making process. Without any rennet added. That's how it is to this day: The spicy Alpine cheese speciality from the Ahrntal valley is made, as it always has been, from lean cow's milk, crafted by hand and then matured in the cellar for 10 weeks. Its name is derived from the grey-greenish mould on the cracked rind, which gives it its distinctive taste. In recent years, South Tyrolean grey cheese has experienced a true renaissance: today it is an ingredient in many regional dishes and particularly appreciated as a Presidio Slow-Food.
Freshness, naturalness and provenance. Our South Tyrolean milk, from which we make our incomparable products and preserve and promote our mountain farming tradition thanks to handed-down recipes and modern processing technologies, stands for this.
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