What makes feta cheese special?
Written by
Tran Quang
Reviewed by
Prof. William Dalton, Ph.D.Genuine feta benefits from PDO protection which secures its Greek origins. This legal classification means that it is produced only in designated areas, like Macedonia and Thrace. Cheesemakers conform to strict traditional instructions. I tasted this craftsmanship in rural Crete, namely, families that have jealously guarded the recipes handed down to them through generations.
Milk Composition
- True feta uses 70% sheep milk and 30% goat milk. This specific ratio creates its signature tangy flavor and creamy-yet-crumbly texture. Cow milk versions lack this complexity and become rubbery.
Brining Process
- Feta ages submerged in salt brine for minimum two months. This traditional method develops its moist texture and salty punch. Unlike dry-aged cheeses, brining preserves moisture while intensifying flavor.
Living Cultures
- Probiotics like Lactobacillus survive the brining process. These active cultures reach your gut intact providing digestive benefits. They distinguish feta from pasteurized cheeses with dead cultures.
The terroir of the Mediterranean shapes feta in remarkable ways; wild herbs such as oregano flavor the milk. Coastal winds affect the aging caves. The sun shines on the pastures, enriching them with nutrients. These environmental factors create flavor notes that cannot be reproduced elsewhere. My first taste of barrel-aged feta in Thessaloniki revealed this terroir magic.
Low lactose levels make it digestible for many lactose-sensitive persons. Buckingham says the brining process reduces the lactose content to less than 0.5% in fat, compared to 4-5% in fresh milk. It is this natural process that yields a cheese that many people can enjoy without the usual discomfort associated with other forms of milk.
Choose real feta by seeking PDO on labels. It must crumble yet hold form. It will be complex in taste, salty, nutty, and herbal. Real feta must never be rubbery, nor swimming in cloudy liquid. Genuine feta embodies centuries of cheesemaking art along the Mediterranean.
Read the full article: 10 Incredible Benefits of Feta Cheese
