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Locally produced cheese and butter form an integral part of Bhutanese cuisine. From Ema Datshi to Kewa Datshi, most of the Bhutanese dishes require cheese and butter. When it comes to quality cheese and butter produced by the milk processing units in Bumthang are of best quality.
Every day, the milk processing unit at Tamzhing under ChhoekhorGewog is abuzz with production of cheese, butter and other dairy products. Other than local residents, the demands are placed from other Dzongkhags, some as far as like Trashigang, Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangduephodrang and Chhukha.
According to the Secretary of the Unit, Samdrup,they receive orders from high-end resorts as well. “We get orders from Thimphu, Punakha, Wangdue. The orders are being placed by residents here. Even from resorts like Thimphu and Paro Aman Kora, they ask the Amankora resort in Bumthang to place the orders for cheese and butter. So, we make the products as per the orders,” said Samdrup
One of the local residents, Tashi Norzin, said that they have to place order a month before. “My friends from other Dzongkhags ask me to order some cheese and butter here at the unit. Sometimes, I also take some cheese and butter. But the order has to be made a month earlier else it is difficult to get because many place orders as the quality is good.”
However, the unit is not able to meet the growing demand of the customers especially during winter season. This is mainly due to low production of milk. During the winter, the unit could hardly produce about 15 to 20 number of cheese in a day.
The Secretary of Tamzhing milk processing unit,Samdrup, said that it is because of low milk production.
Unlike winter, in summer, the unit could produce cheese and butter in large quantity. In a day, the unit could produce about 50 to 60 number of cheese. Therefore, the unit could meet the demand of the customers, earning them good income every year. The other three milking processing units shared the same opinion.
According to the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority in Bumthang, the quality of cheese and butter in Bumthang is good. In terms of cleanliness also, the milk processing units have maintained as per the standard of the BAFRA.
“Even if we feel it or smell it, we can make out that the quality is good. The unit knows the rules and regulations of BAFRA better than me. When I come to check the whether the unit is clean or not, I can see it is clean,” said Karma Tobgay, Officer-in-Charge of the BAFRA.
The Tamzhing milk processing unit was opened in 2004 under the farmers’ Associative from Chhoekhor and Tang Gewogs. The milk processing equipment is provided by the Department of Livestock.
There are a total of four milk processing units in Bumthang.
