Culture Suppliers - UK & Europe?

[crazycacti]

Hello all,

I am currently trying to source PLA and maybe some LH here in the UK (would be happy to go to a willing international site also).

Anyone have any ideas or experience?

I'm itching to have a go at PLA rind 

Many thanks in advance

Mark

[crazycacti]

Update in case anyone comes across this thread searching for a similar scenario...

I spoke to a member of the sales team at http://www.orchard-dairy.co.uk/ and they can cater for the hobby/very small producer in addition to the much larger companies. Every Danisco product and for orders up to £50 its only about a fiver for postage (must be Royal Mail Special Delivery).

Very good customer service on phone, actually felt like I spoke to someone instead of an organic computer of a call centre sales person.

Would recommend to anyone.

[iratherfly]

I sell these. I ship to the UK. Contact me for a price quote. I ship from NYC so you can get it in 3-5 days and it will still cost you less than buying it from Orchard.  Contact me if there is anything you need!

[crazycacti]

Good to know iratherfly! My next order will be with yourself, already making another evolving shopping list with the things I want to try and ideas I have in my head. Would be nice to order from someone like yourself off the forum 

[iratherfly]

Thanks!  Yes, several members here buy from me regularly. I also have cheese moulds, utensils, instruments, synthetic cheesecloths, etc. Everything you need for cheesemaking. Site coming soon!

[crazycacti]

Will be good to checkout your website when its up, hope its soon!

[max1]

Out of curiosity, how much would you charge to ship to Belgium?

[iratherfly]

Hi Max, if it's just a bag or two of culture, international shipping first class starts at $9. If this is something heavier, I can use USPS International Priority Mail which is $16.95 flat rate for box or envelope.

Curious to know: If you were to buy this in the EU, how much would you be typically charged for shipping and taxes?

[max1]

Just checked.  VAT is 20% here (that's Belgium for you) and the site I usually order from charges a fixed shipping rate of 7.50€.  They just carry the basics though, since they're originally a brewing supplier.

[Tomer1]

Yoav, once the weather cools and the fear of getting "cooked" cultures in the mail wears off, I'l be ordering some stuff aswell  

[crazycacti]

If its any help to anyone the costs of my small order were:

- PLA 2 Dose - £8.12
- Kazu 50DCU - £10.14
- MA4001 5DCU - £7.04
- LH100 - 10 DCU - £10.14

- Postage and Packing - £5

Total: £40.44

[hoeklijn]

They just carry the basics though, since they're originally a brewing supplier.

Max, where are you ordering your stuff? I find it difficult to find a variety of cultures here in Holland, but I found some in Germany...

[max1]

Brouwland.  I'm pretty sure it's Belgian.  But there's not much.  Just Flora Danica culture-wise, some p. roquefort./cand and linens

[hoeklijn]

Yes, I know. It's the same with Brouwmarkt here although they are cheaper than Brouwland. I also tried Gebr. Rademakers directly, because they supply webshops and small dairies all over Europe, but they don't want to deliver smaller quantities to hobby cheesemakers. If you want Danisco cultures you can try http://www.kaesereibedarf.eu/kulturen-und-lab/kulturen/. On request they send a pricelist as pdf. Until now I didn't order there because I still have cultures from http://www.kaesereibedarf-leidinger.com in the freezer. Don't know where they buy it, but at least they offer a variety...

[iratherfly]

Ooops, SORRY GUYS! I wasn't here to answer your posts for a few days!

Yoav, once the weather cools and the fear of getting "cooked" cultures in the mail wears off, I'l be ordering some stuff aswell

No problem. I can send in temperature-protective packaging!

If its any help to anyone the costs of my small order were:

- PLA 2 Dose - £8.12
- Kazu 50DCU - £10.14
- MA4001 5DCU - £7.04
- LH100 - 10 DCU - £10.14

- Postage and Packing - £5

Total: £40.44

Okay. My price for these:
- PLA 10-dose (Sorry, no 2-dose, but look at the price-per-dose ratio!) $16.99 (£10.74 / €13.53)
- Kazu 50-DCU $12.99 (£8.31 / €10.35)
- MA4001 25-DCU (sorry, no 5-DCU but look at the price-per-DCU ratio!) $12.99 (£8.31 / €10.35)
- LH100 20-DCU (sorry, no 10-DCU, Look how much this is for TWICE as much!) $10.99 (£6.95 / €8.75)

Shipping to UK -this is just a padded envelope with a few grams so First Class is $7.21 (£4.56 / €5.74)

So... £38.87 for 95 DCU and 10 Doses VS. £40.44 you pay for 65 DCU and 2 Doses. - YOU DO THE MATH!

By the way, all my stuff is shipped in ORIGINAL PACKAGING from the culture manufacturer (sealed with nitrogen in the plant, free of oxygen and moisture). I never breach a package from Danisco, Abiasa or Hansen to re-pack it myself... The only things I re-pack are Rennet, Calcium, Annatto, Lipase, Citric Acid, Ash and Cheese Salt. That is because I buy them in gigantic packages and they are not nearly as sensitive. They are also originally not packed in such protective packaging for a reason and are very shelf-stable.