Serbian cheeses facts for kids

Pirot kačkavalj

Serbia is a country in Europe known for its delicious food, and that includes many types of cheese! Serbian cheeses are special because they are often made in different regions, each with its own unique taste and way of making them. Some famous ones come from places like Sjenica, Zlatar, Svrljig, and Homolje. These cheeses are a big part of Serbian culture and food.

Discovering Serbian Cheeses

Šar cheese often has dill on top

Serbia has many kinds of cheese, each with its own story and flavor. They are made from different types of milk, like cow, goat, or sheep, and sometimes even donkey milk! Here are some of the most interesting ones:

Cer Cheese: From the Mountains

• Cer cheese (called cerski sir in Serbian) is a special cheese made from goat milk. It comes from the beautiful Cer mountain region.

Homolje Cheese: A Taste of Tradition

• Homolje cheese (homoljski sir) is a white cheese kept in salty water, known as "brined cheese." It can be made from cow, goat, or sheep milk. You can find this cheese in the Homolje valley and mountains. It even has a special mark called GI, which means "Geographical Indication," showing it's truly from that area.

Krivi Vir Caciocavallo: A Hard and Yellow Delight

• Krivi Vir caciocavallo (krivovirski kačkavalj) is a hard, yellow cheese. It's made from a mix of sheep, cow, and goat milk. This cheese is produced in the Zaječar region and is named after a place called Krivi Vir. It also has the GI mark.

Mokrin Cheese: A Local Favorite

• Mokrin cheese (mokrinski sir) is another white brined cheese. It gets its name from the village of Mokrin.

Pirot Caciocavallo: A Famous Hard Cheese

• Pirot caciocavallo (pirotski kačkavalj) is a very famous hard cheese from the Pirot region. It's well-loved for its rich flavor.

Pule Cheese: The World's Most Expensive Cheese

• Pule cheese (pule) is a very special and rare smoked cheese. What makes it unique? It's made from donkey milk! This amazing cheese is produced in Zasavica and is known as the world's most expensive cheese.

Šar Cheese: From the Šar Mountains

• Šar cheese (šarski sir) is a hard cheese named after the Šar Mountains. It's made in regions like Gora, Opolje, and Štrpce (in Kosovo).

Sjenica Cheese: A Nominated Heritage

• Sjenica cheese (sjenički sir) is a white brined cheese, traditionally made from sheep milk. It comes from the Pešter plateau and is named after the town of Sjenica. This cheese is so important that it has been nominated for the Intangible Cultural Heritage list, meaning it's a valuable part of human culture.

Svrljig Cheese: From the Nišava Valley

• Svrljig cheese (svrljiški sir) is a white brined cheese made from cow milk. It's produced in the Nišava valley and is named after Svrljig.

Svrljig Caciocavallo: Another Hard Cheese from Svrljig

• Svrljig caciocavallo (svrljiški kačkavalj) is a yellow hard cheese, similar to kashkaval. It's made from cow milk and also has the GI mark.

Zlatar Cheese: From the Zlatar Mountain

• Zlatar cheese (zlatarski sir) is a white brined cheese made from cow milk. It's produced on the Pešter plateau and is named after the beautiful Zlatar mountain.

Balkan Cheese Festival: A Celebration of Cheese

Every year since 2013, Serbia hosts a special event called the "Balkan Cheese Festival." It's a great place to try many different cheeses from Serbia and other Balkan countries, learn about how they are made, and celebrate this delicious food!