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Cheese from Croatia, Lika

Lički škripavac

Lički škripavac is a fresh, full-fat cow cheese from Lika in Croatia that squeaks against the teeth. Whole milk is warmed to 32–34 °C and set with a dairy culture and rennet, the curd is cut and the grains are warmed above 41 °C, up to 45 °C, then salted, moulded, lightly pressed and eaten fresh with no ripening. The squeak fades during storage.

Fully documentedCheese1.7 hPGI (EU, PGI-HR-02600, registered by Reg. (EU) 2021/2270)Family: Uncooked or semi-cooked pressed cheese family (tomme, Saint-Nectaire, Reblochon, Morbier, Raclette)

Recipe

Amounts from a sourceTraditional process. The producers' specification gives percentages and temperatures, not batch amounts. The 2024 study made five batches of 40 L raw cow milk, each split into two equal parts for the two salting methods.
Whole cow milk, raw or pasteurisedFrom cows raised in Lika; the specification asks for at least 3.5 % milk fat and 3.2 % protein[spec2020][eambrosia]
RennetNatural rennet or a suitable substitute[spec2020]
Dairy starter cultureNamed in the specification and the EU description; no species is given[spec2020][eambrosia]
Salt1.5–3 % of the milk processedThe specification salts the curd grains; the 2024 study also compared salting the milk before coagulation[spec2020][ivanis2024]
Startera dairy culture, species not named

Total time across the recorded steps: 1.7 h

Start
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What changes: Starting material: whole cow milk from Lika cows

Step 1 of 7
Start with whole cow milk
Time
Not documented
Temperature
Not documented
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Flavour
Not documented
Texture
Not documented
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

Not documented for this step.

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source

At a glance

Lički škripavac is a fresh, full-fat cow cheese from Lika in Croatia that squeaks against the teeth. Whole milk is warmed to 32–34 °C and set with a dairy culture and rennet, the curd is cut and the grains are warmed above 41 °C, up to 45 °C, then salted, moulded, lightly pressed and eaten fresh with no ripening. The squeak fades during storage. Made in 7 steps over 1.7 h. The longest step, mould and press lightly, takes up to 1 h (Udruga malih sirara Ličko-senjske županije 2020). Salt is 1.5–3 % (Udruga malih sirara Ličko-senjske županije 2020).

Key numbers
Main stepup to 1 hSet[spec2020]Mould and press lightly
Temperature32–34 °CSet[spec2020]Warm the milk and add culture and rennet
Salt1.5–3 %Set[spec2020]Drain the whey and salt

What makes this one different

Soft cheeses are normally made without heating the curd, but the specification has the grains warmed above 41 °C, up to 45 °C, and says this gives the rubbery, squeaking texture. It is moulded, lightly pressed and eaten fresh, not ripened.

Milk
cow milk, raw or pasteurised, whole; from cows raised in Lika
Setting
rennet and a dairy culture
Ripening
none; sold fresh with no rind. In the 2026 study hardness rose over 28 days of storage and the squeak faded.
Rind
none
Size
cylindrical or rectangular, at least 240 g
Composition
At least 50 % dry matter and at least 45 % fat in the dry matter

Related ferments

Variants

  • Salted in the milkSalt goes into the milk before it sets; in the 2024 study the cheese had more water, less protein, a higher pH, more milk fat recovered and a higher yield than the grain-salted one.
  • Salted on the grainsSalt goes onto the curd grains, as in the specification; in the 2024 study the cheese was harder, less crumbly and less elastic than the milk-salted one.

Safety

A fresh, unripened cheese; the specification has it vacuum-packed and kept at 4–8 °C until sale and eating. The milk may be raw or pasteurised. The CDC advises people who are pregnant, aged 65 or over or immunocompromised to avoid any cheese made with raw milk, unless it is heated until steaming hot.

History and sources

Every number is labelled with how it is known. How this atlas is made

The specification quotes Nikola Zdanovski's 1947 handbook Ovčje mljekarstvo, which says škripavac was made in almost every Lika household and was little known outside Lika. The producers' association began the protection procedure in December 2017, and the EU registered the name as a PGI in December 2021.

Microbes
No study we found names its microbes.
  1. [ivanis2024] Ivaniš M., Tudor Kalit M., Rako A., Bendelja Ljoljić D., Kos I., Dolenčić Špehar I., Kalit S. 2024, Influence of salting method on the chemical composition, yield, texture and sensory properties of Škripavac cheese, Mljekarstvo 74(4):276–284 (abstract)paper
  2. [kalit2026] Kalit S., Rako A., Tudor Kalit M., Samaržija D., Dolenčić Špehar I. 2026, Preservation of squeakiness and exploring consumer perception of geographical origin of Lički škripavac cheese, Mljekarstvo 76(4):201–209 (abstract)paper
  3. [spec2020] Udruga malih sirara Ličko-senjske županije 2020, Lički škripavac, Oznaka zemljopisnog podrijetla, Specifikacija (producers' specification, December 2020)spec
  4. [eambrosia] European Commission 2021, Single document 'Lički škripavac' PGI-HR-02600, Official Journal C 325, 13.8.2021 (registered by Reg. (EU) 2021/2270, OJ L 457, 21.12.2021)gov
  5. [croatiaweek] Croatia Week 2021, Lički škripavac cheese becomes 32nd Croatian protected designation of origin (quotes the EU product description)web
  6. [cdc-listeria] CDC, Preventing Listeria infection (safer food choices; cheese made with raw milk)gov