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Cheeses of Santa Cruz, Laguna

The capital of Laguna province, where soft white kesong puti of carabao milk is sold wrapped in banana leaf.

Santa Cruz, Laguna

Made, aged and sold here

Kesong puti

Best time: December to May, the drier months.

Santa Cruz is the capital of Laguna province, on the shore of Laguna de Bay south-east of Manila. Laguna is one of the homes of kesong puti, the soft white cheese of the Tagalog provinces. Made from carabao milk and sold wrapped in banana leaves, it is a breakfast food, eaten with warm pandesal and coffee.

UploadWizard photos -- (General description) -- of -- Municipal Hall and Plaza, Liwasang Gob. F. T. San Luis, Downtown, & the Immaculate Conception Parish Church of Santa Cruz, Laguna [1] Poblacion, 14° 17' 0.95" N 121°
Photo: Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kesong puti

Kesong puti is made from whole carabao milk with salt, set with vinegar, calamansi juice or sometimes rennet. Acid-set, it is crumbly and fresh like paneer; set with rennet, it is soft and supple. It is pressed lightly in a banana-leaf wrap and sold by street vendors and roadside stalls. Its mild salt and tang suit sweet bread and strong coffee.

Laguna and its towns

Laguna is a province of lakeshore towns, coconut groves and hot springs. Santa Cruz, Pagsanjan, Lumban and Liliw are known for crafts such as embroidery and footwear. Kesong puti, buko pie and espasol are the foods visitors carry home from the province, bought at stalls along the main roads around the lake.

A trail idea for Santa Cruz, Laguna

  1. Santa Cruz town centre Look for kesong puti in banana leaf at market stalls.
  2. Pagsanjan The neighbouring town and its river gorge and falls.
  3. Lumban A town known for hand embroidery on fine fabric.
  4. A pandesal bakery Eat kesong puti the local way, with warm bread for breakfast.
About this page

Written by the EveryCheese desk with AI assistance. Background: "Santa Cruz, Laguna" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets, caves and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.

StyleFreshBrinedStretched curdBloomy rindLacticWashed rindSemi-softSemi-hardAlpineHardBlueSmokedWheyDriedProcessed
MilkCowGoatSheepBuffaloYakCamelMixedOther
FlavourMilky and freshButtery and creamyNuttySweet and caramelTangy and lacticSaltySharp and tangy-agedSavoury and brothyEarthy and cellarMushroomyPungent and funkySmokyHerbal and grassyPiquant and spicy

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