Jacobean Cildania (5321 - 5369)

[Wu Han]

Ġobon immuffat: Cildania’s black market for maggot-infested cheese


Ġobon immuffat: production of this traditional but illegal cheese involves allowing the cheese fly to lay eggs inside it.

March 8, 5336 | Ġobon immuffat is a traditional cheese historically produced in Kinaan. Production of the cheese involves the addition of rennet to heated sheep’s milk, after which it is placed inside moulds into brine. For the final step, the cheese is left outside to allow the cheese fly to lay eggs in it. The fly’s larvae begin breaking down the fats in the cheese to give it a distinctive soft texture.

For many people, the prospect of eating thousands of live maggots is enough to turn the stomach. Ġobon immuffat (which literally means “rotten cheese”) is a traditional cheese with a history dating back to ancient times though. Generally served on flatbread with red wine, it is reported to have a strong taste and a unique smell. According to tradition, the cheese is a strong aphrodisiac.

Consumption of ġobon immuffat is a serious health concern. Numerous authorities have concluded that the larvae are able to survive inside the digestive system of human beings. As a result, the cheese is banned in most countries due to the risk of myiasis (commonly called fly strike) when the maggots are consumed. Although some people prefer not to consume the maggots themselves, traditional Kinaan custom regards this as a faux pas.

Food safety laws have not stopped production of the cheese though. In rural Kinaan, it is not difficult to find sheep farmers willing to sell for the right price. Estimates suggest that over 150 tonnes of ġobon immuffat is produced each year. In addition to selling the cheese within local communities, farmers often sell to organised crime groups. Using their existing distribution networks, gangs are able to transport ġobon immuffat across the country and sometimes beyond.

In many ways, the tale of this unusual delicacy is symbolic of modern Cildania. Rules and procedures are decided by central government but they are not enforced uniformly. Rural communities are left to govern themselves while politicians focus on the country’s urban coastal regions. As always, there is a role for organised crime.

The Ħarald tas-Sur is one of the oldest Cildanian newspapers, which nowadays lays its focus on investigative journalism. It usually remains politically neutral but has a history of writing for the upper middle class.

OOC: The following real-life reference material informed this post.
Casu martzu page on Wikipedia.
Casu marzu: rotten cheese. [Link no longer available]
The secret resistance behind the world’s most dangerous cheese.

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Originally posted by Jamescfm on 22 Jul 2023.