Buffalo milk cheese is cheese manufactured from buffalo milk, whose high levels of fat and protein produce creamy, flavourful curds and excellent cheese yields. It ranges from fresh stretched-curd types such as mozzarella, through soft and brined cheeses, to aged varieties. Producers value buffalo milk for the distinctive pure-white colour it imparts, since it contains almost no carotene, and for its delicate, milky taste. As with all cheesemaking, milk quality, starter cultures, and hygienic ripening conditions determine the safety and character of the finished cheese.