Feta cheese facts for kids
Feta cheese is a famous type of cheese that comes from Greece. It's usually made from the milk of sheep or goats. Feta originally comes from the mainland of Greece or the island of Lesbos in the Aegean Sea.
Since 2007, only cheese made in Greece, mostly from sheep or goat milk, can be called Feta. This means cheese made from cow milk or from other countries can't use the name.
Contents
The Story of Feta Cheese
People in Ancient Greece knew about a cheese very similar to what we call Feta today. The famous Greek writer Homer even mentioned it in his epic poem, the Odyssey.
How Polyphemus Made Cheese
According to an old myth, the one-eyed giant Polyphemus was the very first cheese maker! He collected milk from his sheep in bags made from animal skins. He was super surprised when, after a few days, the milk turned solid. When he tasted it, he found it was delicious! He also noticed that this solid cheese lasted much longer than fresh milk.
Where the Name "Feta" Comes From
The name Feta actually comes from the Italian word fetta, which means "slice". This name started being used around the 17th century. It probably refers to how the cheese was cut into slices before being put into barrels for storage.
Images for kids
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A Greek salad with a slice of feta.
See also
- Feta para niños (In Spanish)
