Feta Cheese

Feta is a famous Greek brined cheese, a true symbol of Mediterranean cuisine. It is made from sheep's milk or a mixture of sheep's with goat's and held in brine or its own whey, whence the name (from the Italian fetta — “slice”).

Feta has a white colour, a dense but crumbly texture that breaks easily, and a characteristic salty, pleasantly tangy, and rich taste. Sheep- and goat-milk cheesemaking in Greece is ancient (described in Homer's Odyssey); feta itself is first recorded in the 11th century. True Greek feta has protected-origin (PDO) status, so only cheese produced in Greece by the traditional technology may be so called. Feta is an indispensable component of the Greek salad; it is added to baked goods (spanakopita pies), baked, crumbled over vegetables, and drizzled with honey. Salty, refreshing, and healthful, feta is one of the adornments of Greek and all Mediterranean gastronomy.