Mona

Producer

Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Coop

Country

United States

Region

Wisconsin

Size

10 ins diameter, 5 ins high

Weight

9 lbs

Website

Milk

Cow
Sheep

Classification

Firm

Rennet

Animal

Rind

Plasticoat

Made in Wisconsin from a blend of pasteurized sheep and cow’s milk, Mona is one of three cheeses produced by the Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Cooperative under the guidance of Dane Huebner. Sheep’s milk is sourced from twelve member farms that milk between 100-400 sheep seasonally, mainly comprising of the East Friesian and Laucaune breeds. During the spring and summer, the sheep graze freely on pasture and fed a limited amount of natural grain whilst being milked. Production is also seasonal. To make the cheese, the milk is gently pasteurized before starter cultures and rennet are added. Once the curd is formed and cut, the whey is drained off and the remaining curds put into plastic molds for pressing. After unmolding, the wheels are transferred to a temperature and humidity controlled aging facility at Cedar Grove Cheese in southern Wisconsin. There, they’re aged for at least six months before release. During this time, they’re covered with an edible poly-coating to help preserve moisture and control mold growth. Flavors of Mona are sweet with savory notes of grass, nuts and browned butter. The texture is slightly pliant and moist, with more aged wheels becoming slightly drier and more crumbly.