Bread cheese (Finnish: leipäjuusto or juustoleipä; kahvijuusto; Swedish: kaffeost or brödost), known in the United States as Finnish squeaky cheese, is a Finnish fresh cheese traditionally made from cow's colostrum. In America, cow's milk is generally used but can also be made with goat milk.[1] Commercially available versions are typically made from cow's milk. The cheese originally comes from Southern Ostrobothnia, Northern Finland, and Kainuu.[2]
Traditionally, the cheese has been called leipäjuusto mainly in Ostrobothnia and Lapland and juustoleipä in Kainuu.[3] [4] Nowadays the two words are interchangeable, but leipäjuusto is the more common spelling. Other dialects have various names (such as narskujuusto) that refer to the way that fresh leipäjuusto "squeaks" against the teeth when bitten.[5]
The milk is curdled and set to form a round disk from two to three centimeters thick. After this, bread cheese is baked, grilled, or flambéed to give it its distinctive brown or charred marks.
Traditionally, bread cheese was dried and could then be stored for up to several years. For eating, the dry, almost rock hard cheese was heated on a fire which softened it and produced an especially appetizing aroma. Even today, the cheese may be dried by keeping it in a well ventilated place for a few days. It has a mild flavour.[5]
Bread cheese can be eaten warm or cold, and is served in a number of ways:[5] [2]