We have tried many varieties of mozzarella di bufala, due to the fact that my fiance can't eat any cow milk products but has no trouble with buffalo mozzarella. After ten years without pizza, he is now able to indulge, thanks to our discovery that buffaloes are compatible with his tummy.

Our favorite is Bubalis Bubalus. It is made domestically. It comes in a celophane package, wrapped up like a giant candy. Be sure to check the date on any buffalo mozzarella, as it goes bad quicker, and, depending on the store and the market, it may not turn over as quickly as it should on the shelves.

We usually find it for $7.

There's another kind fron Italy that's also good that comes in a round plastic container and has a yellow label... looking in pantry for container, which now contains sea salt ... found it .. the brand is Pomella.

Another kind we get sometimes is cheaper. It's also fron Italy. Seems more mass produced and seems to keep better. It comes in a plastic bag with a red label. The bag is the same material that frozen veggies come in. It doesn't have as much flavor, has a more rubbery texture, and the rounds are smaller. It's still good... just not up to the others we've tried. It is cheaper, though, so if you're needing a bunch for something basic, it can be a good choice.

There's one other kind we've tried, also a top choice, that comes in a container, and inside the container is the brine and a paper fabric type pouch with holes in it to let the brine in. The mozzarella is in this pouch. My guess is it is shipped in bulk, a bunch of pouches all in one big tub of brine, and the cheesemongers break it up, putting each in a container with a bit of the brine. It's good also but the most expensive we've gotten.

In the end, Bubalis Bubalus really has a nice flavor to us. earthy and rich. good fat. delicate rind. You do have to watch it, though. If it sits too long it gets mushy. Doesn't keep as well as some of the others. Do check the dates on the packages (for Bubalis the date sticker is inside the gathered celophane) and use the cheese within 2-3 days. If using raw, really use right away. If melting for pizza or lasagna, you can get away with it being mushy (trust me, we've used some we forgot about for waaay too long, and it's fine).

Here in Austin we're blessed with two of the best groceries in the country and probably beyond: Central Market and the Whole Foods corporate headquarters flagship store. The competition between these two has really brought some great products to town. We've become a laboratory for innovation in the grocery/specialty foods business in a sense, which is quite fortunate for us. We do our best to be good guinea pigs!