Q: Why and how did you first start making cheese?A: To answer this question, I will have to go back to my childhood in the 70’s. As a child, I hated plain milk or malted milk. But I absolutely loved ice-creams and the flavored milks (chocolate, strawberry, and pistachio) sold in the school cafeteria.
There were a few cows (Holstein Fresian) that were being milked. Milk required for the farm was kept and the balance sold in town about 17 kms (10 miles) away. This involved an uphill hike (3 miles) and then catching the bus to town (7 miles).As the herd started increasing, it was decided that we should start making cheese to sustain the farm. Until then, the only cheese I knew of was AMUL processed cheese. So to find out that there were close to 1400 varieties of cheese in the world was an eye opener.
David (with a background in farming from New Zealand) started making cheese on a small scale by making fresh cheese. Later, when we received Ricki Carroll’s Book “Cheese making Made Easy” (now Home Cheese Making) and small zip lock pouches of bacterial culture, we used them to make ‘mother’ and ‘daughter’ cultures and we slowly graduated to making harder cheese like Gouda and farmhouse cheese.
The cheese I tasted was Roquefort. So unlike many who graduate from a mild to sharp, I started from sharp and went on to mild and piquant and every conceivable cheese flavor.David continued experimenting with fresh cheese and mold ripened cheese like Camembert and Brie, while I, using Ricki’s book and later Frank Kosikowski’s book ‘Cheese and Fermented Milk Foods’, focused on aged cheese like Gouda, Edam, Montasio, Romano, and Parmesan.These became our standard products that we sold to visitors and tourists in Kodaikanal and in retail outlets in larger cities and also various consulates including the American consulate in Chennai.
So, it’s an uphill task but many are now getting interested. A recent program on T and L channel called ‘Cheese Slices’ hosted by Will Studd caused quite an interest.Q. You look so young to have accomplished so much.
Ashu Agarwal says
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful post! Great inspiration for people who want to get into cheese making!
Kumar says
Wow.. Mukund has actually replied to only one person … look at the trail of posts
mohit says
hello sir. i m mohit i belong from gujrat. can u teach me that how to make a good cheese. sir i m looking from so many days to learn it. but i could;t find any good teacher .so pls. consider me as a student.
Pooja says
Hi mukund i want to learn making cheese can i join you for some days as a trainy . I am a designer and having my own brand . My age is47 and passionate about cooking. And i have my family camping business in nainital.regards and all the best
Mukund says
Hi Pooja,
Please email me at mukundnaidu@gmail.com or cheesemaker@live.in and let me know more.
Regards,
Mukund
ARUNAV GHOSH says
why dont you try in NATIONAL DAIRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE,IN CAL.HARYANA. BLORE ETC
ONLY they can teach guide you.They are having short course FERMENTED COAGULATED MILK
NO OTHER BETTER WAY THAN IT,
dear mukund,
how and where can we get training of cheese making.
pls reply
Hello Mukund, I am from Nepal and I’ve been making Gauda and mozzarella cheese i am wondering if you are also running a cheese making training for other varities of cheeses like chadder , feta , permesan, edam ,etc so I can join you and learn more cheese making .Thank you
Hi mukund
This is Husain Merchant here.
I have just started the dairy and looking forward to learn the art of making cheese.
I have at present HF cows and goats.
As I am not looking for goat meat but yes cheese if you could help me in doing so.
Regards
Where in Goa can I get your cheese? Thanks
Dear Mr. Mukund Naidu ,
I have read your blog , and have found it very interesting , we have a farm measuring 2 acres in Uttar Pradesh .
As I wish to set up a Cheese making unit , could you impart me training in Cheese making .
I wish to generate employment for people and also serve the society as a whole , while earning my living for my family from the trade .
With Regards ,
Pankaj N Seth
Cell : 0091-981035087
Mukund may be reached at cheesemaker@live.in
Hi Mukund
This is Chetanya From Haryana(North India), I am also inserted in cheese making, but I got found only one farm (www.acres-wild.com) who gives training for the same, and this farm have very long distance from my city, please guide me that where to i take training for cheese making and how much important to learn it, and potential of this industries for making profit
Thanks
why dont you try in NATIONAL DAIRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE,IN CAL.HARYANA. BLORE ETC
ONLY they can teach guide you.They are having short course FERMENTED COAGULATED MILK
NO OTHER BETTER WAY THAN IT,
Dear Mukund ji,
I am running a NGO inDelhi and in Tamil Nadu in the name of (AJWELS )i want to start a make cheese and sell for rural sustainable income generation process. i am regressely looking for some one to teach us the process.
Please help me
my E-mail Id:john_maraj@rediffmail.com,
contact No:9350211431
ajwelsindia.org(my NGO web Site
Hi Cyrus,
Sorry, the cheese is not available in Mumbai. it's sold only in Goa. In case you are interested in Artisanal cheese, try Godrej Nature's Basket or Hypercity. They stock some fine varities of cheese, although most are imported.
is there any place in mumbai where i can buy your cheese
Dear Mukund Sir,
Thats a great task you are doing as a cheesemaker.
I wonder that public in India are really unaware about cheese,
Anyway, I did Masters in Biotech from Nagpur, India. I worked in Pharma ind. But, I had decided my career as a businessman so long ago. I did my training at Wockhardt Biotech Park also, but due to no vacancy currently I am jobless, and waiting for a job.
Anyway,I am extremely enthusiastic to start my buss. as a key cheese maker in my region.
This is a humble request to you to guide me how can I start it ;I dont have capital to play the buss. game? I am just waiting for Govt. subsidy and dads pension money to start.
Again, I wish to join your Goa's plant, to be trained over there and for a job also.
Reply as soon as possible.
-Sagar Pawar
waw
Can I learn to make Mozzarella cheese here?
Can I learn to make Mozzarella cheese on this farm?
We ship all over the world-http://www.cheesemaking.com
New England Cheesemaking Supply Co.
hi can u tell where can i get rennet and starter cultures in india
thanks,you have given very informative details about the cheese industry .
Wow! Wonderful Mukund! Great inspiration for people who want to get into cheese making!
Love this! Think I'll go milk the cow and goats and make some homestead cheese;)