Quark

quark (pronounced ‘kvahrk’ and meaning curd) is a fresh curd cheese made from skimmed milk and is consumed by Germans on a very large scale.

Various kinds of quark can be ripened to form a different cheese. Thus Sauermilchquark, which is made from sour milk, is the basis for Sauermilchkäse (see hand cheese). A family tree showing all the varieties and products of quark would be extremely complicated. This is inevitable, given the extraordinary importance of quark; it accounts for about half the cheese eaten by Germans themselves, and has been spreading abroad steadily, helped by its reputation as a suitable food for slimmers (although its fat content varies according to the type) and by its versatility in the kitchen.