Top 4 Cretan Fresh Cheeses

This soft table cheese is made from whey from the processing of Graviera or Kefalotyri Kritis cheeses and the addition of sheep or goat milk, or a mixture of the two. Its name is a combination of two words – mizithra and xyno – meaning 'acidic whey cheese'. It is produced on the beautiful island of Crete in the Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, and Lasithi prefectures, where it has been produced since the 17th century. Today, Xynomyzithra Kritis is one of the most popular cheeses made on Crete. This lovely, white, rindless cheese has a distinctive sweet and sour taste, and its texture can vary from creamy to granular. Xynomyzithra Kritis can be used in a variety of recipes, as it becomes milder and softer when cooked.Expand

Myzithra is a traditional cheese made from the whey of goat’s or sheep’s milk cheeses. It comes in three main varieties: fresh, sour, and aged. The fresh one is soft in texture and unsalted, typically shaped into eggs or balls. Its aroma is pungent, while the flavor is quite mild. Sour myzithra is prepared with sheep’s or goat’s milk, yeast, and salt, while the aged variety is hard in texture and very salty. The first two varieties are often used in baked pastries and desserts, while the aged variety is best when grated over pasta, soups, and casseroles.Expand

Hailing from Crete, Anthogalo is a creamy fior di latte cheese that was first made by Polyphemus, according to mythology. The sheep's milk is heated, and when it starts to boil, yogurt and rennet added, and the combination is mixed with a wooden spoon. The part of the milk that rises when boiled is strained in a cheesecloth and left to dry in a cool, well-ventilated, and dark place. After a few days, the cheese is placed in a jar and refrigerated. The texture of Anthogalo is creamy, buttery, and spreadable. It goes well on potatoes, meat, vegetables, salads, pasta, or risotto, but perhaps the best combination is anthogalo on rusks with honey.Expand

This soft, spreadable cheese has been made in the municipalities of Siteia, Makry Yialos, Itanos, and Lefki for over 50 years. It is produced from goat or sheep milk from the local breeds, which feed on a diet of local herbs and aromatic plants. Sheep milk is only used when not enough goat milk is available, but in this case the fat content is adjusted to keep the fat content of the final product under 46%. The cheese is white with a creamy or granular texture. Its taste is fresh, acidic, and slightly salty – this is because salt is added to the milk before the acidification stage, which results in the final drained product having a milder taste. It is recommended to serve Xygalo as an hors d’oeuvre or to serve it in a salad with an olive oil vinaigrette dressing.Expand