Feta
Brined sheep's-milk cheese — tangy, creamy and protected by name. · Greece
Brined sheep's-milk cheese — tangy, creamy and protected by name.
About Feta
Made mainly from sheep's milk and aged in brine, feta is salty, tangy and crumbly yet creamy. A protected designation means only Greek cheese made the traditional way can carry the name.
🏛️ History & Culture
Feta’s origins trace back to ancient Greece, where brined white cheese was a staple, though the exact birthplace is debated among regions like Thessaly, Macedonia, and Epirus. The name "feta" itself, meaning "slice" in Italian, was only adopted in the 19th century, as the cheese was traditionally cut into slabs for storage in brine.
Today, feta is made mainly from sheep's milk, with up to 30% goat's milk allowed, and is aged in brine for at least two months. Its production is protected by a European Union PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), meaning only cheese made in Greece, using traditional methods, can legally be called feta. It is a cornerstone of Greek cuisine, used in salads, pies, and as a table cheese, and is deeply tied to national identity and Mediterranean dietary traditions.
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Feta — frequently asked questions
What is Feta?
Made mainly from sheep's milk and aged in brine, feta is salty, tangy and crumbly yet creamy. A protected designation means only Greek cheese made the traditional way can carry the name.
What is Feta made of?
Feta is made with sheep's milk, goat's milk, brine and rennet.
Where does Feta come from?
Feta comes from Greece, and is especially associated with Nationwide. Feta’s origins trace back to ancient Greece, where brined white cheese was a staple, though the exact birthplace is debated among regions like Thessaly, Macedonia, and Epirus.
Where can I eat Feta?
Across Greece, baked under honey and sesame as "feta psiti".
Taste Feta in Athens
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✅ Before you go to Greece
Round out your trip — most travellers book these alongside their trip.
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- 🇬🇷 Gemista · Greece
- 🇬🇷 Skordopsomo · Greece
- 🇬🇷 Fava Santorini · Greece
- 🇬🇷 Pasta Flora · Greece
- 🇬🇷 Fasolada · Greece
- 🇬🇷 Metsovone · Greece
- 🇫🇷 Tomme de Chèvre de Savoie · France
- 🇺🇸 Melinda Mae · United States
- 🇫🇷 Pave de Chirac · France
- 🇺🇸 Salemville Smokehaus Blue · United States
- 🇬🇧 Somerset Brie · United Kingdom
- 🇸🇮 Prekmurska Gibanica · Slovenia
- 🇩🇪 Frikadellen · Germany
- 🇵🇹 Cabrito Das Terras Altas do Minho · Portugal
- 🇵🇱 Ćwikła · Poland
- 🇪🇸 Pisto · Spain
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