Schweizer Käse: Was macht Gruyère und Co. so einzigartig? | Einstein | SRF Wissen

A Gruyère always tastes the same. Its flavor is unmistakable. The same goes for genuine Emmental or Appenzeller. A lot of work goes into it: the cheesemakers' expertise, good milk, and special lactic acid bacteria as a secret ingredient. Bacteria that researchers at Agroscope guard like a treasure. 🔔 Subscribe to SRF Wissen on YouTube now 👉 @srfwissen ⏰ A new episode of "Einstein" every Thursday at 5:30 pm More about the video ––––––––––––––––––––––––– The Proud Cheesemaker Four years ago today, 28-year-old Daniela Weber became the first woman in the Bern region to take over a cheese dairy. She primarily produces Gruyère AOP and Vacherin Fribourgeois and also creates her own cheeses and yogurt. "Einstein" presenter Kathrin Hönegger visited the energetic cheesemaker in Düdingen and spent a day working part-time as a cheesemaker. One thing's for sure: it's definitely not a walk in the park. Quality thanks to secret lactic acid bacteria Unlike industrial cheese from the supermarket, every official Swiss cheese variety has its own unmistakable flavor. Lactic acid bacteria play a crucial role in this, and scientists at Agroscope have been guarding them like a treasure in their cold storage for decades. The researchers cultivate the individual strains of bacteria and monitor their quality. They supply the cheese producers weekly, thus guaranteeing that the cheese always tastes the same. The bacteria are an important part of Swiss cultural heritage. Exporting them abroad is strictly prohibited. Emmentaler with holes Emmentaler AOP has a problem. Industrially produced copies are giving it a run for its money in the market, and: it has fewer and fewer holes. Researchers at Agroscope are now searching for ways to reintroduce more holes into Emmental cheese – including the use of computed tomography. Cheese Detectives Real or a copy? Or even a fake? Using so-called origin-detection bacteria, the microbiologists at Agroscope can determine whether an Emmental cheese is genuine Emmental AOP or a cheap imitation. The DNA of these bacterial strains contained in the cheese reveals this. If they are absent, the case is clear. Emmental AOP dairies are obligated to use these unique bacterial strains in cheese production. 👀 Watch now: 00:00 Intro 00:54 How is cheese made? 06:10 The bacterial cultures from Agroscope Liebefeld BE 09:22 How is cheese made from milk? 12:35 Düdingen Cheese Dairy: How do bacteria get into the cheese? 18:01 Why are we eating less Emmental cheese? 20:40 How can you tell real Emmental cheese from imitations? 22:53 How do the holes get into Emmental cheese? 25:32 Final processing of Guyère cheese 27:59 Bacteria in cheese 29:53 The influence of cheese bacteria on the microbiome ________________________ ◾ Director: Andrea Fischli-Roth ◾ Editors: Sandra Odermatt, Martina Mieth ◾ Presenter: Kathrin Hönegger © 2025 SRF ________________________ This is Einstein: We tell stories that inform, educate, and entertain. There are virtually no limits to the range of topics. Everyday phenomena and mysteries are explored alongside complex scientific subjects. We make connections to bridge the gap between everyday life and science. Come along on a fascinating journey into the world of knowledge. A new episode of "Einstein" airs every Thursday at 5:30 pm. 📸 The "Einstein" presenting team on Instagram: ► Kathrin Hönegger: Instagram: kathrinhoenegger ► Tobias Müller: Instagram: tobias._.mueller 👉 Would you like to suggest a topic? Then write to us at: [email protected] MORE KNOWLEDGE, EVERY WEEK ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 🔔 Subscribe to SRF Wissen on YouTube now and activate the bell: ► https://www.youtube.com/srfwissen?sub... 👇 More knowledge is available here: 📰 Knowledge to read: https://www.srf.ch/wissen 🎧 Knowledge to listen to: https://www.srf.ch/audio/themen/wissen 👀 Knowledge to watch: https://www.srf.ch/play/tv/themen/wis... ________________________ 🧠 Channel info: Discover, experience, understand, be amazed – that's SRF Wissen on YouTube. Here you'll find fascinating videos on the topics of knowledge & science, environment & sustainability, and health, nature & animals. All bundled together on one channel. ______ SRF's Social Media Netiquette: ► https://www.srf.ch/social-netiquette #SRFWissen #SRFEinstein #SchweizerKäse #WissenErleben #Wissenssendung #SRF #Doku