Detroit Area- Where to buy rennet

[interplanetjanet]

Where in the Detroit area can I buy vegetable rennet and raw milk for my mozzerella cheese making project? I tried plum market, which ended up being a massive fail

[momskitchen]

Zingermans probably doesn't sell vegetable rennet as it is bitter compared to the real thing. I think you can only buy in online....

[Jack Freeman]

IPJ..when were you able to do that? Recently? It is my understanding that it's now completely illegal in any state to sell raw milk. This is the reason you must buy shares, which are available through almost every farmers' market. I know you can still buy raw milk in Canada.

We picked up some excellent raw milk cheese from Bellwether Farms at the Power Road Winter Farms Market in Farmington a couple of weeks ago. Not sure how they can sell the raw milk cheese..I know they sell shares of a cow too..but the cheese is available for sale to everyone and it's great.

[interplanetjanet]

I was able to get raw milk while there this past august

[Jack Freeman]

So..I did a little research. MI is one of 23 states that ban the sale of raw milk. Not surprising because MI is pretty tough across the board when it comes to all things food. Except that annoying Cottage Law that allows anybody and everybody to make food in their house to sell. Sorry I'm off subject here...that one just annoys me. At least they should require a foodservice class or two before they are allowed to sell up to 15k in food to the world!

[JanPrimus]

As of right now you can sell Raw Milk Cheese in the US if it has been aged for at least 60 days.

[Jack Freeman]

Thanks, Jan! Good to know! I wasn't sure how that worked. It's definitely a different tasting cheese. I love it my wife..not so much...lol

[Wooderson]

"As of right now" are the key words, the FDA is currently looking into this:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/05/AR2011020502210.html

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/15/1336502...

[JanPrimus]

Yep....I was too lazy to dig up the links but that is EXACTLY what i was referring too. I will have to become a outlaw. Raw Milk for the win.

[momskitchen]

You don't HAVE To use raw milk to make mozzarella....pasteurized milk works fine.

[JanPrimus]

Next think you will be telling me that I don't need a Water Buffalo!

[charlesbois]

zingerman's has mozzarella making kits, maybe that's a way you could go. And in older grocery stores (think old Krogers or IGAs) I've seen rennet tablets by the ice cream cones and toppings. Also maybe Whole Foods?

[Wooderson]

To get raw milk I think you have to buy a share in a cow. Basically, you own the cow so you can then drink the milk. I don't think raw milk can be sold over the counter. I have friends with a share and have received a couple of gallons, it is good stuff, it doesn't have a long shelf life though.

This link may help in your search for raw milk:

http://www.realmilk.com/where3.html#mi

As far as rennet, I have no idea.

[JanPrimus]

hopmanssupply.com has tablets - I would guess you could check other home brew stores too.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-renn...

[interplanetjanet]

lame! in colorado i was able to go over to the farm and just buy some

[JanPrimus]

Detroit is not to well know for having farms. So far....