Jungle Cheese

[GBoyd]

Hey folks, it´s been a long time.

So, I´m in Panama, 3 months into a 27 term in the Peace Corps. I´m working on environmental conservation with the Ngobe-Bugle people, pretty far out in the middle of nowhere. This is not a culture that makes or eats cheese, but they milk brahma and cebu cattle.

This is my situation:
No electricity, therefore no refrigeration.
Temperatures usually in the nineties and ridiculous humidity.
Evil microbes everywhere.
Very, very difficult access to the usual cheesemaking supplies (rennet, calcium chloride, cultures and the like)

Also, I´m not much of a fan of queso blanco.
Do you have any suggestions? Especially for cheeses that could be aged in this environment (maybe up in the roof of the house where the smoke from the cook fires collects)?

Internet is hard for me, so I won´t be able to participate for awhile, but I would be very appreciative if you would have a discussion about the options.

Thanks in advance,

Andy

[DeejayDebi]

Temperatures is definately a problem for aging cheese. I don't know much about Pamanaian environments but years ago when I was stationed in Hawaii some of the less fortunate locals would have loose floor boards in their shanties and dig a deep hole and store foods in a big bucket in the ground. Temperature was much lower there and shaded from the sun.

[woodsman]

Boyd, you might try your luck with mozzarella as entire process is conducted in temperatures higher than your ambient and it requires no aging. I assume you could get your hands on unflavored yogurt with live culture in it?

You could also smoke mozzarella to make it last a bit longer.

Without access to a refrigerator, cooler or a cold cave you'll not only have problems aging and storing cheese for extended periods of time but even making it as the ambient temperature will keep the curd during pressing too warm and the cheese will try to escape from the mold due to extensive production of gas, rising almost like bread dough.

[coffee joe]

GBoyd,

For starters, congratulations on your Peace Corp stint. I admire all those who dedicate their time to a wonderful project.
I have often lived under similar conditions and quickly learned that lack of basic amenities is not really the end of the world. If you are not going to be moving much there are a few items that will make your stay allot easier.
One item that I always had available was a PROPANE FRIDGE. a WWII invention that I managed to keep ice even when the propane ran out.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=propane+refrigerator&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=963728461931047248&ei=MKlmTPuWG8H78AaTzbW1BA&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBcQ8wIwAA#

A small biodigester(100 gallons) will run a propane fridge forever. A slightly larger digester (500 gallons)will run a small generator. A digester can be made even with mud brick.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=briggs+and+stratton+generators&hl=en&cid=12014349004893937073&ei=y6tmTOvWJIXgyQXFmNmLDA&sa=title&ved=0CDAQ8wIwAzgA#p

The Brahma and Zebu cows produce fat and protein similar to a Jersey, great stuff to start with. You are most likely dealing with a higher level of risk so far as Brucellosis and Tuberculosis as well a leptospirossis from the milk.

PM me for more