Named for the cheesemaker's cutting gesture — mozzarella literally means "little cut," describing how the curd is torn by hand into portions.
A mild, white Italian cheese traditionally made from water buffalo milk, with a soft, elastic texture.
From Italian mozzarella, diminutive of mozza meaning a cut, from mozzare meaning to cut off, referring to the technique of cutting the curd by hand Key roots: mozzare (Italian: "to cut off").
True mozzarella di bufala — made from the milk of Italian water buffalo — accounts for less than 5% of all mozzarella consumed worldwide. Most "mozzarella" is fior di latte, made from cow's milk. Italian law protects the name with DOP certification, making authentic buffalo mozzarella from Campania a legally protected product.