cheese, hoja santa

Hoja Santa cheese is produced by the Mozzarella Company in Dallas, Texas — fresh goat's milk cheese is wrapped tightly in hoja santa (Piper auritum) leaves, which infuse the mild, lactic cheese with the herb's distinctive character over time. Hoja santa contains safrole and anethole, producing an anise-sassafras-mint aroma that is unique in the herb world. The cheese beneath is mild and creamy, providing a neutral canvas that amplifies the infused herb character rather than competing with it. The flavor combination is deeply Oaxacan in spirit — hoja santa is used in Oaxacan mole amarillo, tamales, and as a wrap for fish preparations in southern Mexico. As a cheese, it bridges Mexican and American artisan traditions and pairs well with Mexican salsas, tropical fruit, and the warm spiced flavors of the regional cooking that inspired it.