Brined cheese facts for kids
Brined cheese is a special type of cheese that is kept and aged in salty water, called brine. This brine is usually in a container that doesn't let air in, or only lets a little bit in. This way of making cheese helps it stay fresh for a long time. It stops bad germs from growing, even in places with warm weather.
Brined cheeses can be soft or hard. They come in different colors and flavors depending on the type of milk used, like cow's milk, goat's milk, or sheep's milk. These cheeses usually don't have a hard outer skin, called a rind. When they are fresh, they often taste clean, salty, and a bit tangy. As they get older, their flavor can become stronger and more sharp. Most brined cheeses are white.
It's important to know that not all cheeses that use brine are called brined cheeses. For example, some cheeses are just washed with brine on the outside. But true brined cheeses are actually aged inside the salty water.
Where Are Brined Cheeses Popular?
Brined cheeses are very popular and eaten a lot in the Middle East and countries around the Mediterranean Sea. Many different kinds of brined cheeses are made in these regions.
Some Famous Brined Cheeses
Here are some examples of brined cheeses from different countries:
- Akkawi (from the Levant region, which includes countries like Lebanon and Syria)
- Balkánský sýr (from Czechia and Slovakia)
- Bryndza (from Romania, Slovakia, and Russia)
- Chechil (from Armenia)
- Cherni Vit (from Bulgaria)
- Domiati (from Egypt)
- Feta (a very famous one from Greece)
- Halloumi (from Cyprus, also known as Hâlûmi in Egypt)
- Lighvan (from Iran)
- Nablusi (from Palestine)
- Sirene (from Bulgaria)
- Sulguni (from Georgia)
- Telemea (from Romania)
- Beyaz (from Turkey)
- Tzfat (from Israel)
