How popular would you say cheese is in the Middle East region? Which kind is the most popular?
“Interestingly, there are rumours that the first cheese makers were in fact Middle Eastern nomadic goat herders. There is no evidence to back this up; however, the Middle East is home to a number of popular cheeses that are regularly seen on the menus here in Dubai,” cites Anton.
The popularity of cheese is not restricted to a particular nationality or region. Concas says: “I can say from my own experience that cheese is very popular in the Middle East, especially at breakfast time, like cold mezze. Also, I see a lot of Arab guests eating Italian cheese with fruits after dinner.”
Verrier adds that it is equally popular with the expat population in the region. “Brie continues to be a very popular cheese. People who maintain a healthy diet will opt for a goat cheese as it is lower in fat and definitely the ‘healthiest’ of the cheese options.”
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Tonetto comments: “The most popular cheese is Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano. This is not only in the Middle East but all over the world.”
Other options mentioned include shanklish, feta, labneh, akkawi and halloumi as the most popular choices in Middle East.
Is sourcing cheese a challenge? What are the main obstacles in the supply chain?
Sourcing cheese doesn’t seem to be a challenge any more, say experts. Concas says: “I don’t feel sourcing cheese is a big issue, but to find a good cheese… that is a different story. My advice is to take it from the original country if you want to taste the real flavour, especially if it’s fresh cheese.”
Moreover, ordering in advance is crucial to ensure timely delivery and the availability of required variety. Concas concludes: “Never forget that life is too short to eat cheap cheeses. Choose accurately what you want and enjoy it!”
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