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GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => Discussion => Topic started by: cheeseslovesu on January 07, 2013, 08:04:24 PM

Title: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: cheeseslovesu on January 07, 2013, 08:04:24 PM
Hello cheese wizards,

I am travelling from Australia to Japan on Friday and I need to take rennet and starter cultures in my check in luggage. I wont be taking much, approx under 100ml of liquid non animal rennet and 20g each of freeze dried cultures. I will also be taking the batch information sheets for each product.

Do you think Japanese customs will let me bring them in. I have emailed them and they only said no animal products are allowed.

Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: Schnecken Slayer on January 07, 2013, 09:25:54 PM
They may class the rennet as an animal product unless the product sheet will convince them. I don't know how easy it is to procure in Japan.
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: cheeseslovesu on January 07, 2013, 09:52:14 PM
Thanks S S
It seemed to indicate more animal meat products were not allowed in. Hopefully I dont have to dump it all. I might contact the US cheese suppliers to see if they have any restrictions with sending ingredients to Japan.
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: Al Lewis on January 07, 2013, 10:14:35 PM
I see a cavity search in your future.  LOL  Good luck!!
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: cheeseslovesu on January 07, 2013, 10:18:48 PM
So your advice Al is to wear good undies...
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: Al Lewis on January 07, 2013, 11:43:27 PM
At least!  LOL
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: NimbinValley on January 08, 2013, 08:32:56 PM
From my experience Japanese customs are not as strict as Australian so it should be fine, as long as they are in unopened packets/containers.  More often than not though they won't even check your stuff.  I think Australia is one of the last places (plus NZ) that has strict quarantine - everywhere else has probably got everything else by now...  Enjoy your trip, hopefully without any cavity searches!
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: cheeseslovesu on January 09, 2013, 03:19:26 AM
I only have big packs of cultures and rennet, I was going to decant into sterile sample containers...

I do have the batch certificates of each culture I am taking.
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: Al Lewis on January 09, 2013, 04:34:00 AM
Big cavity search!  Wear dirty knickers, they won't check you as close.  LOL
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: Schnecken Slayer on January 09, 2013, 05:37:41 AM
I only have big packs of cultures and rennet, I was going to decant into sterile sample containers...

I do have the batch certificates of each culture I am taking.

Could you vacuum pack the samples with the certificates inside the bag?
That way they could see they haven't been tampered with.
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: cheeseslovesu on January 09, 2013, 07:09:47 AM
Terrific idea SS, I will do that too.
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: cheeseslovesu on January 11, 2013, 10:05:43 PM
Good news, they let everything through - no cavety search!

I just had 3 starters and 50ml liquid non animal rennet in separate labelled sterile sample containers in zip locked bags. I declared them and the man just thought I was funny - who would want to make cheese! He had a laugh then said on your way funny red haired cheese making lady!!

Thanks for caring x
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: Al Lewis on January 11, 2013, 10:08:47 PM
That's great!! ;D
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: Schnecken Slayer on January 11, 2013, 10:34:32 PM
That is excellent news.
You will have to post some pics of your creations...
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: cheeseslovesu on January 22, 2013, 11:22:47 AM
Back in Oz land today and I realised I didn't take any photos of the cheese I made.

We searched the supermarkets in Kyoto for unhomogenised milk with no luck. We were able to buy milk that was pasteurised at 63C, most was ultrapasteurised at 130C.

I made haloumi (almost was a disaster but it came good in the end) whey ricotta, cream cheese and yoghurt. All the cheese came out really white even though it was full cream, 3.6% cows milk.

I am on the hunt for fresh raw milk now. They have it in the north near Hokkaido. If anyone knows anymore about fresh milk in Japan let me know. There is also meant to be a goat dairy west of Sendai... i would love to go over there and teach the expats.
Title: Re: Transporting Rennet & Freeze Dried Cultures Into - Japan?
Post by: NimbinValley on January 24, 2013, 12:13:07 AM
The colour difference is probably due to Australian/NZ cows almost always grazing pasture outdoors, whereas Japanese cattle are mostly housed.  As well as the colour difference the Japanese refer to Australian milk as having an 'oceanic taint' - which is interesting since our milk probably tastes as milk should and milk from housed cattle should probably be referred to as 'lacking flavour'.  Interestingly because of this taint issue the Japanese market prefers ice cream from producers in northern Australia since our cattle have a relatively higher grain component in their diet which reduces the 'taint' somewhat. 

Good to hear your cheesemaking went well.  There are a couple of small scale cheesemaking dairies in Japan. I noted down their location for safe keeping somewhere.  When I remember where it is I'll let you know.  NV.