Some microbiological, physicochemical and ripening properties of Erzincan Tulum cheese produced with added black cumin (Nigella sativa L.)

The effects of black cumin (BC) at 0, 1 or 2% in Erzincan Tulum cheese (Tulum cheese) on its microbiological, chemical and proteolysis properties during ripening were investigated. The addition of BC caused an increase in the dry matter, protein, ash, total nitrogen (TN), water-soluble nitrogen (WSN) (% of TN) (ripening index), 5% phosphotungstic acid soluble nitrogen (PTA-SN) (% of TN), and 12% trichloroacetic acid soluble nitrogen (TCA-SN) (% of TN) concentrations compared to BC-free (control) cheese. Additionally, the addition of BC caused a decrease in coliforms, yeasts & moulds, fat-in-dry matter (FDM), pH, and acidity. The ripening period had an increasing effect on the dry matter, protein, FDM, salt, salt-in-dry matter (SDM), ash, acidity, TN, WSN, PTA-SN and TCA-SN concentrations. In addition, the ripening period had a decreasing effect on coliforms, yeasts & moulds, and pH. The count of Staphylococcus aureus in all Tulum cheeses made of raw sheep’s milk was < 2 log cfu/g, ripening was faster and favourable Tulum cheese was produced. Therefore, 2 months after adding 2% BC to Tulum cheese that was produced using raw sheep milk immediately after milking as the original production method, it was found that Tulum cheese can be consumed more safely than coliform bacteria and yeasts & moulds.