Irfan – A true Buffalo Soldier

I believe in buffaloes. In their existence. It breaks my heart to know that most Indians have harboured such prejudices against buffaloes. But not me. Not my family, says Irfan.

Irfan says, I have a thousand reasons to love these big, fat, black beasts. One of the most important ones is the potential they represent. Did you know that Mozarella capital of the world, Italy got their first batch of buffaloes from India? And isn’t it strange that India, the largest source of buffaloes hardly manufactures buffalo mozzarella, quizzed Irfan, in a matter of fact way.

If you want truly great mozzarella cheese, buffalo milk is the way to go. It is way more superior than cow milk mozzarella cheese, answered Irfan. The closest we can get to any kind of Italian cheese, is our very own Paneer. And paneer made from buffalo milk is decadently creamier and flavourful.

‘We were fortunate to visit some farms in Italy and learn their processes and techniques. It drove us to develop our very own buffalo paneer plant, under the brand name of Patanwala. I lead expansion and innovation in the Company, so it is imperative for me to sample the best international dairy farms and products.
Most paneers are made of cow milk, but paneers made from buffalo milk are way more superior, opined Irfan.
That is because, making paneer is painstakingly slow, a luxury large dairy conglomerates cannot afford, said Irfan.

Sitting in the Patanwala Paneer plant of Noble Dairy with Irfan has been a delightful lactic experience.

Buffalo milk paneer is equivalent to Italian ricotta cheese, soft and creamy. Mouthful of buffalo paneer has a deep taste sensation and rolls up in your palate with waves of joy. As I downed two soft balls of this paneer, I realized, this man is a true Buffalo soldier.
Turning buffalo milk it into paneer is a delicate process. To achieve a balance of flavour, taste, fragrance and even its colour is achieved through patience and precision.
Like a true connoisseur of paneers, Irfan said, it is not the most difficult of cheeses. But it cannot be hurried into Happiness is earned. We don’t call ourselves, the makers of Happy Milk without knowing
what we can deliver. Irfan was raised like a country kid – even though he lived in the heart of the mega-metro of Mumbai. While we sat through the slow spells of the paneer making process, Irfan shed some insights: Did you
know that buffaloes don’t moo. They sound like light barks of a dog.
This is Irfan’s most endearing descriptions of these creatures whom he calls his family and his investments in the same breath.

As told to Shamita Roy.