GIFT GIVING FAQs*Why is International shipping insanely expensive?It really is, check it out on the www.usps.com site. Enter 1lb and 3lb to see the costs. Wish we had another option.*Where is my kit?We enter tracking for every order. Check your Etsy account and/or email. Orders ship via 2-3 day Priority so they're fast. Allow us time to package them up (count weekends) and please, add little extra time during the holiday season!*Are the kits perishable- how long are they "good?"The ones without rennet tablets and culture packets are good indefinitely as long as you keep the salt and citric acid dry. The kits that include rennet and cultures are good for 1 year minimum at a cool room temp, and at least 2 more years if you keep the rennet in the freezer! So don't put off your shopping. Avoid the rush and shop ahead.*Can you please leave out the invoice so my recipient doesn't see what a deal your kits are?We NEVER include invoices with pricing! Yay! You get one by email so we're covered.*Can you include a gift note?Absolutely! That we can manage and we love to read them, ha ha! Just type it word for word into the "message to seller" at checkout. Try to get the note in at time of order since an email may not make it in time for our fast shipping.*Can you take a sharpie and black out Urban Cheesecraft from your printed label so my mom, sister etc. doesn't have a clue what I got for them?Awww sweet! But no, sorry. May we suggest that you send it to yourself first and then wrap it for maximum surprise power?*Can you gift wrap?Nope, so sorry. Our full focus is on getting these kits made and shipped for you promptly.*Can my vegan friend use almond milk etc. with your dairy kits?No, sadly the science just doesn't work in the same way. We do have vegan kits though! Yay! They call for your choice of nuts, seeds, veggies and even beans so they can be customized for practically any diet or preference.*Which kit is best for beginners?They are all meant for beginners BUT some are easier than others. I would try another cheese like ricotta or farmers cheese before mozzarella and burrata.*What would make an amazing gift for a cook who has not made cheese yet, but is likely to be very interested?Glad you asked that very detailed question. ;) A Deluxe kit and my new book One Hour Cheese as a combo is perfect. You can also choose a Mozzarella/Ricotta kit and book if you're on a budget. Both kits allow you to make every cheese in the book and the bundle practically enrolls you in cheese school!CHEESEMAKING FAQs*Do you need raw milk?You do not need raw milk to make cheese although it works great with these kits. You can use regular pasteurized milk from the grocery store as long as it is not ultra pasteurized or ultra-heat pasteurized. Even some of the large organic brands now do this to milk. Its only benefit is a long shelf life. Find a milk that you like and works, then stick with it.*Do you need an aging cave, a press or other fussy stuff?Nope! All of our cheeses are easily made in a regular kitchen and because they don't require aging, they are eaten as soon as you make them.*Is it safe to make cheese at home?Just as safe as making dinner in your kitchen because we are not aging or fermenting with these easy recipes. Keep everything clean, use good practices and you'll be just fine.GENERAL FAQs*Do you sell wholesale?Sure do! Email office [!at] urbancheesecraft.com to get started.*What makes yours the best DIY cheese kits out there?I'll toot my own horn for a minute because I worked and continue to work hard to make my kits the best, so here goes...An Experience- When you give a kit, you give an experience not just a thing that will be tossed, broken or forgotten. We hear so much that people make cheese with their children, grannies, workmates or partners. We love that and do it too! In a world of disposable junk and obligation gifts, we hope you see the difference here.My Commitment and Experience- I take your success in making cheese very seriously and because I do this full-time- I mean business! I test and fine-tune recipes and each kit repeatedly for 1-2 years before I launch anything (I ask family and friends to help test too :). I have taught classes for years and get to see lots of students learn and arrive at cheese in all sorts of ways- so I am well-prepared for most questions and can troubleshoot with you any time you need.History- I opened my shop on Etsy in January 2009 and I'm always improving and simplifying for your success! I was lucky enough to get a short film made about my business by Etsy. It's so well-done, check it out! https://blog.etsy.com/en/2011/urban-cheesecraft/ Environment- I strive to avoid trash so the kits are made with items that are re-usable, recycled/recyclable, refillable, low- plastic and even compostable whenever possible.Food Quality- In addition, the kits are vegetarian and in some cases vegan, I have high standards for food, am conscious of food allergies and keep everything gluten free though so far we can't avoid shared facilities.Good Design- The kits have to make me smile so I take design and packaging as seriously as the contents themselves. I work with local artists to create our artsy packaging. We get lots of compliments so I'm glad other people notice those details too!Email Support- As if that all weren't enough, I include free cheesemaking support for life with each kit! My direct email is in every single kit.Tested and Consistent- Have you read my shop reviews? https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/UrbanCheesecraft/reviews?ref=shop_info I was lucky enough to be the only cheesemaker selling kits on Etsy for over 3 years! That gave me quite a head start and makes my kits the tried and true kits for success. In fact, Williams Sonoma tested and chose my kits (out of seven companies) so I partnered with them after their test kitchen rigorously compared mine to newer competitors.Human Touch and Food Safety- I painstakingly test my recipes and engineer every aspect of these kits. The kits are packaged in a food-safe, fully-licensed space. Do note that although the food items are all gluten-free, they're packaged in a room that comes in contact with wheat, soy, corn, nuts and other food allergens (with serious Dept of Agriculture guided cleanings in between of course).Super Customer Service- I'm nuts about good companies that know how to treat a valued customer so I want us to be one of them. We get to do what we do because of you, in return we strive to make each one of you a repeat customer! We aim to impress! Really.I wrote the book on DIY Cheese- Literally. I wrote a book called One Hour Cheese! I show you how to make the cheeses in my shop and many more with step-by-step photos; a rarity in cheesemaking books. You can order a book here, on our website or you can get the book at most major book stores in the U.S. and Canada, www.powells.com www.indiebound.org and of course, Amazon. I also have a new one called, One Hour Dairy Free Cheese and an even newer one coming called Instant Pot Cheese.I know this is a lot of info. but I get a lot of questions! ;) Got more?Convo me or see my website: