Halitzi cheese, hailing from the sun-drenched Tilliria region, the North-Western area of Cyprus, is a dairy treasure, not well-known even among Cypriots. Get ready to discover a unique and delectable cheese that will certainly tantalize your taste buds.

Halitzi cheese is something like a cross between Halloumi, our Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) cheese and Greek Feta. Made with fresh goat’s milk, it boasts a soft to semi-hard and quite crumbly texture. It has a tart, fresh taste and a lemony, slightly salty smell that lingers pleasantly on the palate, leaving you craving more.

Its characteristic shape, white colour and irregular holes on the inside have given the product its name. Halitzi denotes small stones or pebbles found in rivers or in the sea, used to build xerolithies (dry stone walls) or used for chalikoma (gravel) when building houses.

The art of making Halitzi was most probably passed on to Tilliria’s inhabitants towards the end of the 16^th century by the Venetians and by the families and members of the light cavalry from Nafplio which had fallen under the Ottoman rule.

The expertise and know-how have been passed down from one generation to another and nowadays it is produced in small household industries and homes.

Its production is a laborious and time-consuming process. The milk used for making halitzia is taken during the summer months, when the goats graze on the leftovers of the harvest. Immediately after milking, the goat’s milk is filtered and heated to 65° C for 30 minutes. Once it has cooled, rennet (other than pig rennet) is added, and the milk is left to set for 12 to 15 minutes. The curd is afterwards placed in talarka (tubular mould baskets) and pressed gently by hand. It is later removed from talarka, cut into four pieces, salted and placed in salted noros (whey). It remains there for at least 40 days before is ready for consumption.

Recognized with a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), Halitzi underscores its unique characteristics and regional significance. It can be enjoyed on its own as a mouth-watering appetizer, crumbled atop salads for an added burst of flavor or incorporated into savor dishes to elevate their taste.

Try Halitzi cheese today! Embark on a culinary adventure and experience the unparallelled taste of this versatile cheese.

Save the date: Fig & Halitzi Festival in Kato Pyrgos village