What Italian cheese is made from the milk of water buffalo?

What Italian cheese is made from the milk of water buffalo? Mozzarella di bufala is the answer.

This fresh cheese is made from the milk of the Italian Mediterranean water buffalo, using the pasta filata method. In that process, the curd is heated and stretched until it becomes smooth, elastic, and easy to shape. The result is usually sold in balls, braids, or smaller forms such as bocconcini.

Buffalo mozzarella is strongly associated with Campania, especially the provinces of Caserta and Salerno. The protected specialty mozzarella di bufala campana has European Protected Designation of Origin status, meaning qualifying production must follow defined rules in approved areas of southern Italy. Historical references to cheese made from buffalo milk in Italy date back to the 12th century.

A common mix-up is fior di latte, which is mozzarella made from cow’s milk. Burrata is also often confused with buffalo mozzarella, but burrata is a pouch of cheese filled with cream and stracciatella; it may be made with cow’s or buffalo’s milk. Buffalo milk generally contains more fat and solids than cow’s milk, giving the cheese a richer, creamier texture.