Van herbed cheese ( tr, Van otlu peyniri) is a type of cheese made out of

sheep Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated ...

's or

cow Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult ma ...

's milk. Ripened cheese varieties containing herbs are traditional in Turkey and have been manufactured for more than 200 years in the east and southeast of the country. They are manufactured from raw milk, semi-hard in texture and salty in taste and have the aroma of garlic or

thyme Thyme () is the herb (dried aerial parts) of some members of the genus '' Thymus'' of aromatic perennial evergreen herbs in the mint family Lamiaceae. Thymes are relatives of the oregano genus ''Origanum'', with both plants being mostly indigen ...

due to added herbs. Twenty-five types of herb, including ''

Allium ''Allium'' is a genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants that includes hundreds of species, including the cultivated onion, garlic, scallion, shallot, leek, and chives. The generic name ''Allium'' is the Latin word for garlic,Gledhill, D ...

'', '' Thymus'', ''

Silene ''Silene'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae. Containing nearly 900 species, it is the largest genus in the family. Common names include campion and catchfly. Many ''Silene'' species are widely distributed, particularl ...

'' and ''

Ferula ''Ferula'' (from Latin ''ferula'', 'rod') is a genus of about 220 species of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, native to the Mediterranean region east to central Asia, mostly growing in arid climates. They are herbaceous perennial plants ...

'' species which are most popular, are used individually or as appropriate mixtures. The most popular of these cheeses is Otlu which is produced mainly in the

Van Province Van Province ( tr, Van ili, ku, Parezgêha Wanê, Armenian: Վանի մարզ) is a province in the Eastern Anatolian region of Turkey, between Lake Van and the Iranian border. It is 19,069 km2 in area and had a population of 1,035,418 a ...

of Turkey in small dairies and villages, but now is produced in other cities of the eastern region of Turkey and its popularity increases continuously throughout Turkey.

Herbs used

# '' Ranunculus polyanthemos'' L.(Ranunculaceae) # ''

Nasturtium officinale Watercress or yellowcress (''Nasturtium officinale'') is a species of aquatic flowering plant in the cabbage family Brassicaceae. Watercress is a rapidly growing perennial plant native to Europe and Asia. It is one of the oldest known leaf ve ...

'' R. Br. (Brassicaceae) # ''

Gypsophila ''Gypsophila'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae. They are native to Eurasia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.Silene vulgaris'' (Maench) Garcke var. vulgaris (Caryophyllaceae) # '' Anthriscus nemorosa'' (Bieb.) Sprengel (Apiaceae) # '' Carum carvi'' L. (Apiaceae) # ''

Anethum graveolens Dill (''Anethum graveolens'') is an annual herb in the celery family Apiaceae. It is the only species in the genus ''Anethum''. Dill is grown widely in Eurasia, where its leaves and seeds are used as a herb or spice for flavouring food. Growth ...

'' L. (Apiaceae) # '' Prangos pabularia'' Lindl. (Apiaceae) # '' Prangos ferulacea'' (L.) Lind. (Apiaceae) # ''

'' L. sp. (Apiaceae) # '' Ferula orientalis'' L. (Apiaceae) # '' Ferula rigidula'' DC. (Apiaceae) # '' Thymus kotschyanus'' Boiss. et Hohen. var. glabrescens Boiss. (Lamiaceae) # '' Thymus migricus'' Klokov et Des. – Shoct. (Lamiaceae) # ''

Mentha spicata Spearmint, also known as garden mint, common mint, lamb mint and mackerel mint, is a species of mint, ''Mentha spicata'' (, native to Europe and southern temperate Asia, extending from Ireland in the west to southern China in the east. It is nat ...

'' L. subsp. spicata (Lamiaceae) # '' Ziziphora clinopodioides'' Lam. (Lamiaceae) # ''

Ocimum basilicum Basil (, ; ''Ocimum basilicum'' , also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the variety also k ...

'' L. (Lamiaceae) # '' Eremurus spectabilis'' Bieb. (Liliaceae) # '' Allium schoenoprasum'' L. (Liliaceae) # '' Allium fuscoviolaceum'' Fomin (Liliaceae) # ''

Allium scorodoprasum The sand leek (''Allium scorodoprasum''), also known as rocambole and Korean pickled-peel garlic, is a Eurasian species of wild onion with a native range extending across much of Europe, Middle East, and Korea. The species should not be confused ...

'' L.subsp. rotundum(L.)Stearn (Liliaceae) # '' Allium aucheri'' Boiss. (Liliaceae) # '' Allium paniculatum'' L. subsp. paniculatum (Liliaceae) # '' Allium akaka'' S. G. Gmelin (Liliaceae) # ''

cf. cardiostemon'' Fisch. et Mey. (Liliaceae)

Herbs used

See also