Products of Limnos Wine: Limnio & Muscat AlexandriasCheese: Kalathaki & Melichloro

Despite its rocky ground, Limnos is a fertile island with a wide range of quality products like the famous Limnio wine and Muscat of Alexandria, cheese kalathaki, wheat flour and the flour “mavragani” produced from old wheat seeds.

• Kalathaki of Limnos cheese is a white , soft cheese produced of sheep milk or a combination of sheep and goat milk. The sheep and goats are reared traditionally and are fully-adapted to the environment. Their diet is based on the flora of the area . Its name “kalathaki” means a “basket” and it comes from the shape that the cheese gets when left to mature inside knitted wicker baskets for about 60 days.

• The sheep or/and goat milk is coagulated at 33-34C within baskets woven with green rushes, called “tyrovolia.”This is followed by draining and biological souring in special molds (wicker) which give the cheese its characteristic sculptured shape. After removal from the molds the cheeses are given a surface salting before being placed in tins containing a 6-8% sodium chloride brine solution. The cheeses are ripened at a temperature of 14-18C for 3 weeks and then at a temperature of 60C until 2 months of ripening is completed.

• Kalathaki Lemnos CHRYSAFI won the Gold Taste Award in the Dairy Festival in October 2009.

• Melichloro cheese is made from goats' milk. Straining is a fundamental part of its production. It takes place in well-ventilated areas, away from sunlight, and at times when humidity is relatively low, i.e. after the end of spring. First, the cheese acquires a semi-tender, semi-dry texture, hence its name -melichloro. Later on, during the course of dehydration, the cheese turns hard. It is ideal for grating, for making saganaki (fried cheese) or just served on a cheese tray with meals. You can also enjoy it with raki!

More information• http://www.greek-e-shop.gr/drinks/krasia/leuka/h

ajigeorgiou-limnia-gi-lefko.product• http://www.gastronomos.gr/vraveia/2670/To-kalat

haki-tis-Limnou• https://www.yolenis.com/773/tyri_melihloro_limn

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