Is Harz Cheese (Sour Milk Cheese) Acidic or Alkaline?
Harz cheese (sour milk cheese) (raw) is strongly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
At +20.4, Harz cheese ranks even above young Gouda, even though it's almost fat-free. That is exactly the reason: without fat, almost nothing but concentrated milk protein and its phosphorus remains per 100 g. Low in calories (128 kcal per 100 g) and acid-forming are not mutually exclusive here. Served as Handkäs mit Musik, with onions, vinegar and oil, it gets only a small part back.
In the Cheese category, Harz cheese (sour milk cheese) (raw) ranks #32 of 37, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Provolone cheese (+19.4), Butter cheese (+19.1), Edam cheese (+18.7). More acid-forming are Gruyere cheese (+20.5), Appenzeller cheese (+20.9), Emmental cheese (+21.0).
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
On this site, acidic and alkaline refer to the PRAL (potential renal acid load). It estimates what a food leaves behind once it has been digested: a positive value is acid-forming, a negative value is alkalizing. That is different from the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0, so it is alkalizing. Your diet does not change your blood pH. It does change how much acid your kidneys have to deal with.
What balances Harz cheese (sour milk cheese)
A slice (30 g) of Harz cheese (sour milk cheese) adds +6.1 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harz cheese (sour milk cheese) acidic?
It depends on what you mean by acidic. The pH describes the food itself, for example how sour it tastes. The PRAL describes what it leaves behind after digestion: Harz cheese (sour milk cheese) (raw) has a PRAL of +20.4 per 100 g, so it counts as strongly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much kale offsets a slice (30 g) of Harz cheese (sour milk cheese)?
A slice (30 g) of Harz cheese (sour milk cheese) adds +6.1 to your daily balance. Kale (fresh) has −11.7 per 100 g, so about 50 g of kale offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid Harz cheese (sour milk cheese) on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Harz cheese (sour milk cheese) is strongly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Harz Cheese (Sour Milk Cheese) logged, balance checked.
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Compare all Cheese: Cheese table. Common questions are answered in Acidic or Alkaline?, and the PRAL calculator adds up a whole meal.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.