The 2023 season of Bettelmatt has now come to an end; Bettelmatt is that golden-coloured cheese which is produced in 7 mountain pastures in just three months of summer pasturing in the Alpine heights, by generations of cheesemakers who still process milk according to tradition, in this Terra d'Ossola in Piemonte, in the province of Verbano Cusio Ossola (VB).
The story continues, today it is still in the hands of men and women who learned the secrets at a very early age and who, even if they have reached a mature age, an age for rest and quiet, still climb to over 2000 metres above sea level to produce the much-appreciated, precious, heroic, unique cheese.
The men who carry on this tradition with deep passion and dedication are Albano Matli, 86 years old, Secondino Matli, 83 years old, Alberto Mazzurri, 77 years old and Adolfo Olzeri, 74 years old. A life of sacrifice and hard work, an ancient profession that they pass on to their children and grandchildren, who share with them a love for this work, carrying on the agricultural business.
This is the recipe: passing down art, inclination and the secrets of transforming milk into a good slice of cheese that has the aroma of mottolina, the mountain herb that is the special characteristic of this uncontaminated and natural territory. The cheese wheels remain in the Alpine cellars, awaiting the Brand which will be stamped on each wheel, under the control of the Unione Montana Alta Ossola, the association that owns the brand, which guarantees the management of the operation, which determines its certification of originality of real Bettelmatt cheese, to then arrive on our tables.
Window stickers will also be distributed to retailers and restaurateurs who choose Bettelmatt so they can display it on their premises as an indication of a place where consumers can find the original Bettelmatt cheese.
It will be possible to admire the first public Branding of the year at Alpe Crampiolo in the Alpe Devero Nature Park (VB), on Sunday, September 17th, on the occasion of the "Festa dul Scarghè", the festival of mountain pasturing and mountaineers; at the same time, some wheels will be branded at the "Cheese", the big fair for cheeses produced all over the world which takes place in Bra (CN). There will also be another opportunity to admire this operation on October 21st and 22nd at Biancolatte, l’Oro d’Alta Ossola (the gold of Alta Ossola), in the village of Crodo (VB).