Chhurpi
{{Short description|East Asian cheese}}
{{Infobox cheese
| name = Chhurpi
| image = Chhurpi Nep.jpg
| caption = Production of Chhurpi in Nepal
| othernames = Durkha
| country = Himalayan region
| region = Himalayan region
| town =
| pasteurized =
| texture = Soft or hard
| fat =
| protein =
| dimensions =
| weight =
| aging =
| certification =
}}
Chhurpi ({{bo|t=ཆུར་བ།|s=churwa}}), otherwise known as durkha and chogo/chugo, is a traditional cheese consumed in Nepal, Bhutan and parts of Northeastern India.{{cite web |last1=Ping |first1=Chow |title=Bhutanese enjoy the hardest cheese in the world like chewing gums |url=https://www.dailybhutan.com/article/bhutanese-enjoy-the-hardest-cheese-in-the-world-like-chewing-gums |website=Daily Bhutan}}{{cite web |last1=Vallangi |first1=Neelima |title=Chhurpi: The world's hardest cheese? |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211005-chhurpi-the-worlds-hardest-cheese |website=www.bbc.com |access-date=12 May 2023 |language=en}} The two varieties of chhurpi are a soft variety (consumed usually as a side dish with rice){{cite web|url=http://www.sikkimagrisnet.org/General/en/chhurpicurry.aspx|title=Recipes & Cuisine (Chhurpi - Ningo Curry)|access-date=21 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209130735/http://www.sikkimagrisnet.org/General/en/chhurpicurry.aspx|archive-date=9 February 2014}} and a very hard variety. Chhurpi is considered one of the hardest cheeses in the world.{{Cite journal |last1=Panta |first1=Rajendra |last2=Paswan |first2=Vinod Kumar |last3=Kanetkar |first3=Prajasattak |last4=Bunkar |first4=Durga Shankar |last5=Rose |first5=Hency |last6=Bakshi |first6=Shiva |date=2023-01-02 |title=Exploring trade prospects of Chhurpi and the present status of Chhurpi producers and exporters of Nepal |journal=Journal of Ethnic Foods |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=1 |doi=10.1186/s42779-022-00165-0 |doi-access=free |issn=2352-6181 |pmc=9806816}}{{Cite web |title=Chhurpi: The world's hardest cheese? |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211005-chhurpi-the-worlds-hardest-cheese |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}
Preparation
Chhurpi is prepared in a local dairy or at home from buttermilk.{{cite web|url=http://localnepalifood.wordpress.com/local-nepali-food/chhurpi/|title=Chhurpi|work=Local Nepali Food|date=16 June 2010 |access-date=21 October 2014}} The buttermilk is boiled and the solid mass that is obtained is separated from the liquid and wrapped and hung in a thin cloth to drain out the water. The product is rather like the Italian ricotta, which also is made from whey. It is soft, white, and neutral in taste. However, it is often left to ferment a bit to acquire a tangy taste.
To prepare the hard variety, the soft chhurpi is wrapped in a jute bag and pressed hard to get rid of the water. After it dries, it is cut into small cuboidal pieces and hung over fire to harden it further.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
Consumption
Soft chhurpi is consumed in a variety of ways, including cooking with green vegetables as savoury dishes, as a filling for momo, grinding with tomatoes and chillies for senpen (chutney) and as a soup. In the mountainous regions of the Himalayas, chhurpi is consumed as a substitute for vegetables because it is an excellent source of protein.{{cite web|url=https://www.loyalpetzone.com/chhurpi-cheese/|title=What is chhurpi cheese and how is it made and eaten|date=16 January 2017 |access-date=10 February 2018}}
Hard chhurpi is usually consumed by keeping it in the mouth to moisten it, letting parts of it become soft, and then chewing it like a gum. In this manner, one block of chhurpi can last up to two hours.{{Cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Robert |title=Bhutan |last2=Yong |first2=Jui Lin |publisher=Marshall Cavendish Benchmark |year=2011 |isbn=9781608704538 |edition=2nd |location=New York}}
Use as a Dog Chew
In recent years, Chhurpi has been marketed successfully as an all natural dog chew treat.{{Cite web |title=Churpi Natural Himalayan Canine Treat, much more than a snack |url=https://churpi.dog/en/#:~:text=to%2520your%2520dog?%2520Churpi%2520is%2520a%2520100%25,to%2520the%2520development%2520of%2520bones%2520and%2520teeth. |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=CHURPI |language=en-GB}}