Mlekarna Planika
Dairy in Kobarid, in the upper Soča valley, making Tolminc and whey cheese, with a shop, a café and a cheese museum. It lies north of Brda, a day trip up the valley.
About Albuminska skuta
A soft whey cheese of the Soča valley, made from the whey left after cheesemaking. Planika makes it from the primary whey, naturally sweet from its lactose, drawing out most of the albumin and globulin proteins and setting them as skuta. The dairy calls it a traditional Posočje product known for centuries, good on its own or in baking. Kramar's farm in Zatolmin sells a salted version in 0.5 kg tubs. Soča Valley tourism names albumin skuta, with Tolminc and Bovec sheep's cheese, among the valley's best-known local products. It has no protected name.
Made in: Posočje, the Soča valley, as a by-product of its cheesemaking
On the plate
Planika says the primary whey is naturally sweet because it holds a relatively large share of lactose, which shapes the taste of its sweet albumin skuta. Kramar sells a salted version and suggests it on salads, mixed with herbs, vegetables and spices as a spread on bread or baked potato, or in baking.
Rind: none, eaten fresh
Wine and cheese
What to pour with Albuminska skuta
Fresh Rebula Brda
Our pickAlbuminska skuta is a soft whey cheese, mild and naturally sweet from the lactose left in the whey. A dry, light to medium-bodied Rebula with high acidity lifts the soft curd without covering it, on bread or with herbs.
Brda Malvazija Brda
Our pickAlbuminska skuta is a soft whey cheese, mild and naturally sweet. A dry Brda Malvazija, with floral aromatics and medium to full body, gives the plain curd a lift without overpowering it, especially spread on bread.
Jakot (Sauvignonasse) Brda
Our pickKramar suggests its salted skuta mixed with herbs, vegetables and spices as a spread on bread. A dry Jakot (Sauvignonasse) with ripe fruit and some body suits that kind of plate and keeps a mild, soft cheese from tasting flat.
Medium-bodied Sivi Pinot Brda
Our pickAlbuminska skuta is a soft whey cheese, mild and naturally sweet. A medium-bodied Sivi Pinot with ripe pear and melon sits alongside it without a clash, and its acidity keeps the soft curd from feeling heavy.
The grapes behind these winesRebulaSauvignonasseMalvazijaSivi Pinot
From the source
Where to buy and taste it
Sirarstvo Kramar
Family dairy farm in Zatolmin, above Tolmin, that turns its own cows' milk into raw-milk cheese, whey cheese and yoghurt. It sells at the farm and through a 24-hour vending machine in Tolmin.
Zadruga Tolmin, Nova Gorica
Shop of the Tolmin farming cooperative in Nova Gorica, the gateway town for Brda. Its deli slices cheese and cured meat to order and stocks Planika's whey cheese. A general shop with a butcher, not a fromagerie.
Cheese experiences nearby
From Planika to frika (guided session)
Two-hour guided session at Planika's cheese museum: the history of Soča valley cheesemaking, a tasting of Planika products, then guests cook frika, the valley's traditional cheese dish, together and eat it.
Cheese museum Od planine do Planike
Planika's museum of Soča valley mountain-pasture life and cheesemaking: an old fire-heated cheese kitchen, an alpine pasture hut with its equipment, and a cellar where old Tolminc is aged. Shop on site.
FrikaFest, Kmečki praznik Tolmin
Farm festival in Tolmin joined to the valley's frika day: Soča valley cheeses led by Tolminc, a market of local produce, a show of the best cheeses and a frika cooking contest.
Brda & Collio Wine Festival
Wine festival at Vila Vipolže with over 50 wineries from Brda and Collio; its food area gives a special focus to boutique cheesemakers, and restaurants give cooking shows.
Albuminska skuta: questions
What is albuminska skuta?
A whey cheese. Planika makes it from the primary whey left from cheesemaking, where the albumin and globulin proteins are drawn out and set; the dairy calls it a traditional Posočje product known for centuries.
Is it sold near Brda?
The Kmetijska zadruga Tolmin shop in Nova Gorica says its deli stocks Planika's albumin skuta. Kramar's farm also lists that Nova Gorica cooperative shop among its sales points.
Same cheeseboard
More cheeses from Brda
Plan the trip
Visit Albuminska skuta country
Tastings and tours where it is made, and somewhere to stay.
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Sources: www.mlekarna-planika.si, www.kz-tolmin.si. The drawing is made from the cheese's recorded shape, rind and paste, not a photograph.