Nigerian Artisans Preserve Centuries-Old Cheese-Making Tradition

Traditional Cheese Production in Nigeria

• 🧀 Iyabo Ahmed in Ilorin, Nigeria, is preserving a centuries-old craft of artisan cheese-making, a tradition passed down from her mother.
• 🥛 The cheese is made from fresh cow's milk sourced from local breeders.
• 🌿 A unique ingredient used is juice extracted from the sodom apple plant as a natural curdling agent.

Business and Demand

• ⏳ Iyabo Ahmed has been selling this cheese for over 35 years, stating she was born into the business and knows no other.
• 🛒 Despite disruptions in direct access to milk due to insecurity, forcing reliance on middlemen, demand for traditional cheese remains steadily strong in local markets.
• 💰 One seller reports being in the business for over 20 years and selling up to $340 of cheese daily.
• 🍲 Local consumers find diverse ways to incorporate the cheese into their meals, such as frying it or adding it to soups.