Smokey, chewy, salty and squeaks against
your teeth when you bite it: Oscypek.
your teeth when you bite it: Oscypek.
This delicious cheese has been made from sheep's milk by Carpathian mountain highlanders for centuries, in Poland and Slovakia. There are fakes being sold as well, made from cow's milk.
Joining the European Union
Yes, this cheese has been used as an example of EU sceptics when Poland was close to joining the EU. Since the cheese is made from raw unpasteurized sheep's milk and strict hygiene laws in the EU, these sceptics were stating that the EU would ban the cheese after joining.
Yes, this cheese has been used as an example of EU sceptics when Poland was close to joining the EU. Since the cheese is made from raw unpasteurized sheep's milk and strict hygiene laws in the EU, these sceptics were stating that the EU would ban the cheese after joining.
That did not happen, panic for nothing.
Protected trade
Instead, Oscypek cheese from the Małopolska province was one of Poland's first regional products to earn the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status from the European Union. This would make it illegal to produce the popular cheese outside of the region.
Instead, Oscypek cheese from the Małopolska province was one of Poland's first regional products to earn the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status from the European Union. This would make it illegal to produce the popular cheese outside of the region.
Spindles
The cheese is shaped into characteristic spindle forms with decorative ornaments. The cheese is only made when the sheep are put out to pasture, from the end of April to October.
2005
The Polish application for registering the name oscypek as a Protected Designation of Origin was submitted to the European
Commission in February 2005. During the six-month period for member states to familiarize themselves with the
application, Slovakia objected to the registration.
The Polish application for registering the name oscypek as a Protected Designation of Origin was submitted to the European
Commission in February 2005. During the six-month period for member states to familiarize themselves with the
application, Slovakia objected to the registration.
Cheese war
Slovakia argued that registering the name oscypek would bedetrimental to its cheese called Slovensky ostiepok. Slovakia had applied to the European Commission for the registration of Slovensky ostiepok as a Protected Designation of Origin.
Slovakia argued that registering the name oscypek would bedetrimental to its cheese called Slovensky ostiepok. Slovakia had applied to the European Commission for the registration of Slovensky ostiepok as a Protected Designation of Origin.
Official right to produce
In May 2007, the European Commission had enough of this cheese war and called on the two countries to work out a compromise. Which they reached. They concluded that the names oscypek and Slovensky ostiepok refer to cheeses produced in a different way, although they have a common origin and tradition.
In May 2007, the European Commission had enough of this cheese war and called on the two countries to work out a compromise. Which they reached. They concluded that the names oscypek and Slovensky ostiepok refer to cheeses produced in a different way, although they have a common origin and tradition.
And finally, the registration process for oscypek was successfully completed in February 2008 and the product was entered in the Register of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications.
What's new then?
That's the question I asked myself and I can only conclude two things:
1) One Polish region has the exclusive right to produce under the name oscypek. Same for the Slovakian region and their ostiepok.
2) And they now have the right to use a maximum of 40% cow's milk together with the sheep's milk, but the milk must come from a Polish "red cow." I guess this trade protection caused a big increase in demand with the poor sheep not able to produce that much milk ;-)
That's the question I asked myself and I can only conclude two things:
1) One Polish region has the exclusive right to produce under the name oscypek. Same for the Slovakian region and their ostiepok.
2) And they now have the right to use a maximum of 40% cow's milk together with the sheep's milk, but the milk must come from a Polish "red cow." I guess this trade protection caused a big increase in demand with the poor sheep not able to produce that much milk ;-)
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| Also in Warsaw, Oscypek with cranberries |
If you ever come to Poland then try it. It's delicious and you can buy it on a lot of places. A few nice warm pieces with żurawina (cranberry), mniam.
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