Top Greek Cheeses You Need to Try

Greetings, cheese lovers!

If you’re a cheese fan, you’ll be delighted that Greece boasts an impressive variety of top-rated cheeses. According to tasteatlas.com, 13 Greek cheeses made it onto the global list of the top 50 cheeses. With centuries of cheese-making tradition, Greece produces over 60 distinct varieties, each with unique flavour and character. These cheeses can be enjoyed in salads, as appetizers with wine, in main dishes, or even in desserts. Here’s a look at Greece’s finest:

1. Kalathaki Limnou

A white cheese similar to feta, Kalathaki Limnou is typically enjoyed as a table cheese, paired with fruits or tossed in a Greek salad. It has a salty flavour and a mild, pleasant taste. It is traditionally drained in a small basket called a kathak.

2. Graviera Naxou

This slightly salted cheese has a rich flavour that matures for at least three months. It’s perfect as an appetizer, fried for a tasty snack, or grated over pasta.

3. Metsovone

Hailing from the mountainous region of Metsovo, Metsovone is a smoked cheese with a rich, slightly salty, and spicy flavour. It’s often served as an appetizer alongside local wines like Vlachiko or Debina.

4. Kefalotyri

Dating back to the Byzantine period, this hard cheese comes in two varieties: young (maturing for at least three months) and aged (maturing for at least a year), with the latter offering a stronger flavour.

5. Graviera Kritis

The best-known Greek graviera, Graviera Kritis, has a slightly salty, nutty taste. It’s versatile—great as an appetizer or grated into salads and soups.

6. Galotyri

A creamy, soft white cheese made from milk and yogurt, Galotyri boasts a fresh taste. Produced mainly in August from the fatty summer milk of sheep and goats, it’s a lighter alternative to feta.

7. San Michali

This hard cheese is crafted exclusively from cow’s milk on the island of Syros. With a buttery flavour, it can be enjoyed as an appetizer or used in soufflés and omelettes.

8. Kefalograviera

A relatively new cheese created in the ‘60s, Kefalograviera is a hard cheese made from sheep’s and goat’s milk. It combines the salty intensity of Kefalotyri with the milder flavours of Graviera.

9. Kopanisti

Known for its spicy, peppery flavour, Kopanisti is produced on the islands of Tinos and Mykonos. It’s often enjoyed as an appetizer with drinks like ouzo and tsikoudia, and its soft, spreadable texture makes it great in sandwiches.

10. Ladotyri Mytilinis

This hard table cheese has a salty, spicy taste, making it a great addition to various dishes and salads. Pair it with light, fruity wines for a delightful experience.

11. Xinomyzithra Kritis

A soft white cheese from Crete, Xinomyzithra has a sweet and sour flavour with a texture that ranges from creamy to granular.

12. Kasseri

With its mild, buttery taste, Kasseri is commonly used in sandwiches or grated over casseroles like Giouvetsi. It pairs beautifully with red Agiorgitiko or a strong white like Roditis.

13. Anthotyro

In Greece, Anthotyro can be either a mild soft or hard cheese suitable for grating over pasta. It pairs well with fruits and dry or sweet wines like Debina or Muscat.

Conclusion

From creamy to hard and mild to spicy, Greece's cheeses offer a delightful array of flavours perfect for any palate. Whether you enjoy them alone or as part of a dish, these top Greek cheeses are a must-try!

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