Ezine Peyniri

Ezine Peyniri is a brined cheese made from a blend of sheep, goat, and cow’s milk, produced in Çanakkale Province, Türkiye. The cheese has a semi-hard to firm texture with small holes and no rind, and it ranges in color from white to light yellow. It is aged in brine for at least eight months, giving it a distinctive mild-sweet, salty, and sour taste with a buttery and cooked milk aroma. The milk comes from animals grazing on the diverse flora of the Kaz Mountains, which contributes to the cheese’s rich and unique flavor. Ezine Peyniri is made without starter culture, uses only sea salt, and follows traditional cheesemaking techniques, including the use of animal-sourced rennet.

E4024, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Key Facts

Country of Origin	Turkey
Specific Origin	Çanakkale Province (Ezine, Bayramiç, Ayvacık districts, and specific villages in Çan and Merkez districts)
Protection	PDO (2023)
Milk Type	Sheep, goat, and cow
Fat Content	Minimum 49% in dry matter
Moisture Content	Minimum 43%
Texture	Semi-hard to firm
Flavor	Mild-sweet, salty, and sour
Aroma	Buttery, cooked milk
Colors	White to light yellow
Forms	Cylindrical blocks
Age	Minimum 8 months
Rennet Type	Animal