Xynomizithra
Encyclopedia
Xynomizithra or xynomyzithra is a traditional, unpasteurized fresh cheese
, a sour variant of Mizithra. It is made with milk
and whey
from sheep
and/or goat
s. The ratio of milk to whey usually is 7 to 3.
It is, mainly, produced on the island of Crete
but other areas in Greece also produce it.
Xynomyzithra Kritis (xynomizithra of Crete
) is a European protected designation of origin
. http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/qual/en/pgi_01en.htm
and/or goat
milk
that has been heated to a moderate temperature for 10 minutes. Rennet is then added and a pinch of salt while ruffling. The mix is left in large shallow tanks resulting in a part skim mixture. The following day, fresh milk and a pinch of salt is added, then the mix is boiled for 5-10 minutes, while ruffling. This is repeated for another 2-3 days. The mix then is poured into α basket with tulle inside and is left to drain for a few hours.
It is most common to be eaten as dessert with honey
. It is used as a table cheese, as well as in salads, pastries and in baking, notably in little cheese pies (handful size).
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
, a sour variant of Mizithra. It is made with milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
and whey
Whey
Whey or Milk Serum is the liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained. It is a by-product of the manufacture of cheese or casein and has several commercial uses. Sweet whey is manufactured during the making of rennet types of hard cheese like cheddar or Swiss cheese...
from sheep
Sheep milk
Sheep's milk is the milk of domestic sheep. Though not widely drunk in any modern culture, sheep's milk is commonly used to make cultured dairy products. Well-known cheeses made from sheep milk include the Feta of Greece, Roquefort of France, Manchego from Spain, the Pecorino Romano , the Pecorino...
and/or goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
s. The ratio of milk to whey usually is 7 to 3.
It is, mainly, produced on the island of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
but other areas in Greece also produce it.
Xynomyzithra Kritis (xynomizithra of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
) is a European protected designation of origin
Protected designation of origin
Protected Geographical Status is a legal framework defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. Protected Designation of Origin , Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed are distinct regimes of geographical indications within the framework...
. http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/qual/en/pgi_01en.htm
Production
Xynomizithra is made from eweDomestic sheep
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...
and/or goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
that has been heated to a moderate temperature for 10 minutes. Rennet is then added and a pinch of salt while ruffling. The mix is left in large shallow tanks resulting in a part skim mixture. The following day, fresh milk and a pinch of salt is added, then the mix is boiled for 5-10 minutes, while ruffling. This is repeated for another 2-3 days. The mix then is poured into α basket with tulle inside and is left to drain for a few hours.
Serving
It comes in various sizes and its shape is usually truncated cone or ball. The cheese is soft, snow-white, creamy, and moist, with a sour taste.It is most common to be eaten as dessert with honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
. It is used as a table cheese, as well as in salads, pastries and in baking, notably in little cheese pies (handful size).
See also
- List of cheeses
- Cuisine of GreeceCuisine of GreeceGreek cuisine is a Mediterranean cuisine, sharing characteristics with the cuisines of Italy, the Balkans, Turkey, and the Levant. Contemporary Greek cookery makes wide use of olive oil, vegetables and herbs, grains and bread, wine, fish, and various meats, including poultry, rabbit and pork. Also...