Our cheeses
First of all, cordial thanks to all the people who in the past have somehow found their way to us (and to those who still will!), especially all the interested, courageous, usually friendly and well-meaning cheese customers, guests and visitors who wanted the experience of tasting our special cheeses.
After tasting them, most people usually also want to share the experience with friends and acquaintances. In this way, our cheese has become by word-of-mouth very famous in Poland (but not only there). This has brought us always the customers we need to make possible our financial survival in this relatively poor rural region, and motivates us to continue and persevere.
Our cheese production
or contented customers, one needs tasty cheese. Its production actually begins already out-of-doors, on the pastures, meadows and fields, because the basic requirement for really good cheese is good-quality, varied and organically cultivated fodder, enriched with many naturally-growing herbs.
Also the seasons, climate and weather have an influence on a cheese’s taste and consistency. As does, naturally, the kinds and races of the milk-producing animals. We have contented, healthy cows and goats which, feeding on this fodder, produce especially tasty milk.
Twice daily, and with a lot of personal contact, we milk our animals. After the fresh milk has been filtered and cooled, and a certain maturation period passed, we begin the actual production process which differs with kind of cheese we want to make.
During our first three years, we processed only goat’s milk, and mainly for “cottage-cheese”. Then from 1996/97 on, with the addition of cows to our farm, we started to produce hard and semi-hard “Swiss-type” cheese.
Fortunately we have never been without customers, so that we usually run out of cheese! The limitations posed by the hard work of cheese-making, the size of our cellar and even of our cheese kettle, as well as the climate-related shortage of fodder, have never allowed us to produce more than 1-1.5 tons of cheese yearly.
Semi-hard and hard cheeses:
These full-fat cheeses made from organic raw milk are made from a mixture of cow’s and goat’s milk. Depending on the year and season, the mixing ratio varies between 100% goat’s milk (very rarely in March) and 100% cow’s milk (January and February). On average, the proportion of goat’s milk is 1/5 to 1/4. Because we do not have constant production conditions, almost every cheese has its own individual taste and consistency. Nevertheless, they all have the unmistakable taste note that identifies them as cheese from Bachanowo.
Although we only have hills and no mountains here, our cheeses are typical mountain cheeses (method of production, pastures, climate) and mature for at least two months. Most of them are semi-hard cheeses with a weight of 4-4.8 kg, with a mild, spicy or even recent taste and have no or different sized holes. However, proper ripeness and full aroma, they reach after 3-6 months. The hard cheeses, which weigh 5-7.5 kg, mature for 6-12 months until they are sold and taste particularly spicy and full of character. Because we only have small quantities of them, they are usually only sold to regular customers. Because our cheeses are solid and can be stored for a long time, they can also be shipped without any problems.
Mozzarella Bachanowski:
This is a very mild, only lightly salted full-fat fresh rennet cheese, but it can be kept open, unpackaged in the refrigerator, for several weeks without any problems and can also be deep-frozen. It is an ideal pizza cheese, but it can also be used in a wide variety of ways: fried, baked, melted and seasoned to taste or simply eaten raw, room or sun-warm with bread or French fries; as an addition to soup, vegetables or salad. It’s an excellent cheese for creative chefs, natural food lovers and vegetarians. In the busiest and most touristic period, we almost exclusively produce this cheese.
Fresh Goat Cheese:
Made from 100% goat’s milk. We produce this spreadable full-fat cheese mainly during the main tourist season from May to September or to order. We sell it lightly salted. People can add garlic, herbs and spices according to their own taste. It tastes best simply as a spread.
In addition to the cheeses, we also produce a full-fat natural yoghurt made from pure cow’s milk, which we sell occasionally or by pre-order.
Most of our cheese production is sold directly from the farm. From September to May, we also ship cheese by courier. Order requests can be made by e-mail ( Mail ), we will then send more detailed information. We can also answer any questions by phone.
Direct sales
All our cheeses and other products can be bought directly from the farm 365 days a year – a true Realearth experience! The cheese is not packaged and labelled in a shop somewhere, but can be experienced in its entirety directly at the production site, in connection with the landscape and vegetation, the animals and the people who created it.
Many people appreciate this holistic shopping and sensory experience. Over the years, the circle of regular customers has grown steadily. Some have been witnesses to our history here for almost three decades.
When can you buy our products?
Basically 365 days a year. However, we prefer to be spared on Sundays and public holidays.
Sometimes we are not at home. If you want to be on the safe side, you should phone in advance to check whether we are available so that you don’t have to drive from far away in vain.
Attention! We only have a landline telephone, we cannot see if and who has called. If nobody picks up, that doesn’t mean we’re not there. We could easily be in the garden, in the cellar, in the stable, somewhere outside or even selling cheese. It is therefore better if you try several times.
From when to when are the sale hours?
Generally from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
However, we prefer the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
What can you buy?
Basically cheese, sometimes potatoes and spelt flour. If you are lucky or order in advance, you can also get goat’s and cow’s milk, yoghurt and whey. Only if you are lucky, i.e. if there is enough and more than we need, do we also have eggs, butter, vegetables and salads on offer.
Attention! You can only pay with cash – generally in zloty (PLN). However, we also accept EURO and Swiss francs (CHF) at the daily exchange rate.
Our two dogs bark at approaching passers-by, at oncoming and departing cars and bicycles and they are very happy to do so, because they should loudly announce when someone is coming, but they don’t bite anyone!
And for a better understanding:
- We are aware that our sales point in the narrow vestibule in front of the front door is not an ideal location, but we have never been able to find a better solution.
- Claudia, who mostly sells, is deaf in her left ear and it’s not easy for her to communicate and concentrate on selling at the same time when there’s a lot of people and chatter.
- We have to interrupt other work or our other daily programme to sell our products. We are therefore grateful if people don’t involve us in too long conversations and ask too many questions.
