Visiting Caroselle Dairy was a part of my Kodai experience, but since it left such an impression on me, I just had to write of it separately.
We had been buying chocolates et al at Kodai and on our way back to the Elephant Valley Eco Farm (where we were staying), we stopped here.
The driver parked on the dirt road and told us to walk down the hill. So we realized that the name of the cheese-farm wasn’t Skambha, it was the name of property. The famed cheese is from Caroselle Dairy Products.
My bro had a slight fever, so the family headed to where we were staying (the driver was going to come back for us).
Me and the husband started the walk down. After about about 600 mts, we came across a crossroad, with one path leading to the right, another to the left and, yet another going further down the hill.
We chose the straight way down.
We spotted a bobbing head (very Indian) within some bushes and called out to him. It was the gardener and he told us to walk ahead
We came across a pristine green field to one side and a horse in a shed in it.
Eventually we got to a small office like structure and hey, the moment we entered it, the aroma, or frankly speaking the cheese-stink hit us splat in the face.
We knew this was going to be some good cheese!
A man greeted us and said he will be with us in a few minutes.
Since one needs an appointment to visit here, I informed the man before he left that I had been calling the whole day but no one answered. He said there was an issue with the line and so, I guessed it okay to come in unannounced.
While he was gone, we could see a few men, through the glass partition, working the milk in large vats.
A lady walked in and introduced herself as Henneke Tubben-Kroon. She, I think was the master cheese-maker, though she did not specifically say this.
Very soft spoken and extremely sweet, she exuded warmth and an aura you would be drawn to. When she spoke of the cheese, it seemed as she was telling you universal secrets, that you must tune into.
She made us taste so many cheeses, like Edam, Gauda, Parmesano, but most importantly the Camembert. It is to die for. A soft, flavorful cheese, it goes best with some crackers.
The driver parked on the dirt road and told us to walk down the hill. So we realized that the name of the cheese-farm wasn’t Skambha, it was the name of property. The famed cheese is from Caroselle Dairy Products.
My bro had a slight fever, so the family headed to where we were staying (the driver was going to come back for us).
Me and the husband started the walk down. After about about 600 mts, we came across a crossroad, with one path leading to the right, another to the left and, yet another going further down the hill.We chose the straight way down.
Just keep walking….just keep walking.
SSAfter another 5 mins of walking, we could see some structures in a clearing, through the trees.
It was all quiet and it seemed as if we had stumbled upon an oasis of calm.
A story book cottage after some outhouses greeted us and I deduced that it must be the owner's house.
SSAfter another 5 mins of walking, we could see some structures in a clearing, through the trees.
It was all quiet and it seemed as if we had stumbled upon an oasis of calm.
A story book cottage after some outhouses greeted us and I deduced that it must be the owner's house.
We spotted a bobbing head (very Indian) within some bushes and called out to him. It was the gardener and he told us to walk ahead
.
We came across a pristine green field to one side and a horse in a shed in it.
Eventually we got to a small office like structure and hey, the moment we entered it, the aroma, or frankly speaking the cheese-stink hit us splat in the face.
We knew this was going to be some good cheese!
A man greeted us and said he will be with us in a few minutes.
Since one needs an appointment to visit here, I informed the man before he left that I had been calling the whole day but no one answered. He said there was an issue with the line and so, I guessed it okay to come in unannounced.
While he was gone, we could see a few men, through the glass partition, working the milk in large vats.
A lady walked in and introduced herself as Henneke Tubben-Kroon. She, I think was the master cheese-maker, though she did not specifically say this.
Very soft spoken and extremely sweet, she exuded warmth and an aura you would be drawn to. When she spoke of the cheese, it seemed as she was telling you universal secrets, that you must tune into.
She made us taste so many cheeses, like Edam, Gauda, Parmesano, but most importantly the Camembert. It is to die for. A soft, flavorful cheese, it goes best with some crackers.
Henekke told us that she was a cheese-maker in Holland, but is now settled here.
She also spoke at length of the Founder and Managing Director of Skambha, a Supramental Yogi called Patrizia Norelli Bachelet, who is a follower of Sri Aribindo and has been in India for over 30 years. From Skambha she also runs the Aeon Center of Cosmology.
She incidentally has unfortunately had run ins with the authorities & others with vested interests, due to the fact that she advises that astrologers follow the Tropical Zodiac system instead of the Sidereal one and also that the mother's temple build in Auroville is not the true representation of what she wanted. There are wider issues attached and since I know nothing of the subject, I refrain from an opinion. However, I did think Ms Norelli's fight is admirable, and might be worth a closer inspection by those to whom it matters.
She also works with horses and had been instrumental in encouraging the sport of racing.
Skambha also has over 40 cows and Henneke told us that the Cow and Horse are extremely important since they are the central figures in the Vedas representing the eternal axis of Consciousness-Force. Again, I do not understand this and have researched a bit to write what I am writing.
However I can actively appreciate that I know where the milk for my cheese came from and the good hands that guided the process.
Anyways, I could see the names of some premium luxury resorts and hotels all over India that were getting their delivery of cheese this week.
Anyways, we got almost all the cheeses that they made there and after a good hug, left from there, getting more out of the experience, than cheese, some which unfortunately I did not even comprehend.
We got back to Elephant Valley feeling all good inside!
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