Xinotiri Cheese of Ios

Xinotiri Cheese from Ios: Greece is quite famous for its diverse and distinctive cuisine. Specialties from different regions cumulate to make a truly mouthwatering palette of dishes. One noteworthy mention is the variety of artisan cheeses that are found here.

Among the cheeses that one can find in the markets of Ios, especially in Chora, the most fascinating one is xinotiri. It is usually made in the mountains with either goat or sheep milk and is a cheese that is soft and milky when fresh but becomes more compact with time.

The small pieces of Xinotiri are shaped like pinecones. Once it has been left to age for a while, the cheese is broken into small slices. It is usually white in color when fresh but acquires a pale yellow tint with time. Unlike most cheeses, Xinotiri does not develop a hard crust but only a thin skin as it ages.

Xinotiri has an intense flavor - when you first pop it into your mouth it has a distinct milky flavor but that quickly changes and leaves an aftertaste of the herbs that are used for its creation. This cheese literally melts at the tip of your tongue and is a must-try local product for all visitors of Ios.