Trappista ( hbs, Trapist sir / Трапист сир) is a traditional semi-hard
cow's-milk
cheese
Cheese is a dairy product produced in wide ranges of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep. During productio ...
made in
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
,
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...
,
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and ...
and
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Cr ...
. It was created by the
Trappist monks of
Port-du-Salut Abbey
Port-du-Salut Abbey, also the Abbey of Notre-Dame du Port du Salut (french: Abbaye du Port-du-Salut, ''Abbaye Notre-Dame du Port-du-Salut'' or ''Abbaye du Port-Ringeard'') is a Trappist monastery located in Entrammes, Mayenne, France. The mai ...
in
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
.
History
The origins of the cheese can be traced back to the 18th-century monks of the French abbey of Port-du-Salut. The secret recipe found its way to
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and ...
with the arrival of Cistercian Trappists and establishment of
Mariastern Abbey, Banja Luka
Mariastern Abbey ( sh, Opatija Marija Zvijezda) is a Trappist abbey in Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated near the country's second largest city Banja Luka. It consists of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the monastery of ...
in 1869. The monks lent portions of their name, ''Trapisti'', to the entire neighborhood, and left a prominent legacy in the area through the production of both this famous cheese and a beer.
Production and characteristic
Trappista is based on a secret recipe but is also produced on an industrial scale. The cheese melts easily and has a mild flavor. It has a pale yellowish color with sparsely distributed holes of 3–5 mm. It is typically packaged in red plastic foil. Typical packages include 1.5 kg large and 1/2 kg small "wheels", as well as various slices and blocks.
The original French recipe is still manufactured today, under the trademark name of
Port-Salut or the common name of
Saint-Paulin.
Popularity and consumption
Trappista is very popular in
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Cr ...
and Serbia, as well as in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. This cheese is best consumed with fruits, wine, or as a melted topping on hot foods.
See also
*
Oka cheese
Oka is a semi-soft washed rind cheese that was originally manufactured by Trappist monks located in Oka, Quebec, Canada. The cheese is named after the town. It has a distinct flavour and aroma, and is still manufactured in Oka, although now by a c ...
, a Trappist cheese from Canada
*
List of cheeses
This is a list of cheeses by place of origin. Cheese is a milk-based food that is produced in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms. Hundreds of types of cheese from various countries are produced. Their styles, textures and flavors dep ...
References
Bosnia and Herzegovina cheeses
Bosnia and Herzegovina cuisine
Cow's-milk cheeses
Trappist cheeses
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