The Fourth Ingredient

Pu-erh tea. Parmigiano Reggiano. Soy sauce. Prosciutto di Parma.

At first glance, they do not have much in common. They were created in different countries, under different climates and within different cultures. And yet they share one ingredient.

Every day, we try to save time. We shorten journeys, speed up production, automate processes, and look for faster ways to achieve the same result. Some people even make a living by doing exactly that.

And yet we often begin our day with a cup of good tea, or enjoy a meal whose quality exists precisely because its maker did not try to shorten the time required to create it.

Time.

Time cannot be bought.

Time cannot be cheated.

Miso, whisky, wine, sourdough bread, or cheese are not truly made by humans. We only create the conditions. The essential work is done by bacteria, yeasts, and noble moulds. And they need exactly as much time as they need.

The traditional Carpathian spreadable ewe’s milk cheese Bryndza belongs to the same family. Its production requires very little.

Milk.

Rennet.

Salt.

And time.

Text: Vladimír Jenčurák, Photo: Tereza Sejková