In the capital, Tirana, restaurants like Oxhaket serve the prized cheese, pairing it with fine wine. “Expensive but very tasty, it’s the perfect addition to a gourmet meal,” said restaurant owner Elio Troque.

"Donkey milk has the taste of love," says Fatiko Basha, a farmer facing skyrocketing demand for donkey milk, used to make one of the most expensive cheeses in the world. The milk has long been praised for its numerous virtues and has become popular in cosmetics.