Van Otlu Peynir (Herbed Cheese)

Van Otlu Peynir stands apart as a herbed cheese from eastern Turkey, packed with 20 different wild mountain herbs, including garlic, mint, and wild fennel. Aged inside a sheepskin casing for at least four months, it develops a pungent, earthy aroma and a semi-soft, open texture. This cheese boasts a 40% higher herb content than typical herbed variants, offering a more complex flavor that evolves with each bite. Its 8% salt content helps preserve the unique botanical blend. Compared to Tulum Peyniri, which relies on goat skin, Van Otlu uses only sheepskin, imparting distinct fatty notes that balance herbal intensity.