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Cheese from Greece, island of Syros

San Michali PDOΣαν Μιχάλη

Partly skimmed cow milk from Syros is pasteurised, set at 32–34 °C, cut and the curd reheated to 48–50 °C, then lightly salted and strongly pressed. The wheels sit about 12 days in brine at 10–14 °C and ripen at least four months at 14–16 °C and 85 % humidity.

Fully documentedCheese4.4 monthsPDO (EU), Reg. (EC) No 1107/96; Greek Ministerial Decision 313069/18.1.1994Family: Cooked hard alpine cheese family (Comté, Gruyère and Emmentaler as templates)

Recipe

Amounts from a sourceThe application gives no doses or batch size.
Cow milk from Syros, partly skimmed and pasteurised[michali-1994-en][michali-1994-fr]
RennetThe 1994 application says only that the milk is coagulated; a retailer's ingredient list names rennet[michali-1994-fr][greekflavours]
Lactic cultures and calcium chlorideNamed in a retailer's ingredient list, not in the 1994 application[greekflavours]
Salt, lightly on the curd and then as brine18–20 °Bé[michali-1994-en][michali-1994-fr]
StarterLactic cultures, according to a retailer's ingredient list (cow's milk, lactic cultures, calcium chloride, rennet, salt).

Total time across the recorded steps: 4.4 months

Start
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What changes: Partly skimmed milk is pasteurised

Step 1 of 6
Skim and pasteurise the milk
Time
Not documented
Temperature
Not documented
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented

The milk is partly skimmed before pasteurisation.

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
Not documented
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

Not documented for this step.

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source

At a glance

Partly skimmed cow milk from Syros is pasteurised, set at 32–34 °C, cut and the curd reheated to 48–50 °C, then lightly salted and strongly pressed. The wheels sit about 12 days in brine at 10–14 °C and ripen at least four months at 14–16 °C and 85 % humidity. Made in 6 steps over 4.4 months. The longest step, ripen, takes at least 4 months (The same application) and runs at 14–16 °C (The same application).

Key numbers
Main stepat least 4 monthsSet[michali-1994-fr][michali-1994-en]Ripen
Temperature14–16 °CSet[michali-1994-fr][michali-1994-en]Ripen

What makes this one different

A cooked, hard cheese from partly skimmed, pasteurised cow milk. The curd is cooked to 48–50 °C and the wheels are brined for about 12 days before at least four months of ripening.

Ripening
At least 4 months at 14–16 °C and 85 % humidity
Protein
Highest protein content of the 23 Greek cheeses (21 PDO) analysed in a 2020 study

Related ferments

Safety

The milk is pasteurised.

History and sources

Every number is labelled with how it is known. How this atlas is made

The 1994 application says the cheese had been produced on Syros for the last 40–50 years. The applicant was the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Syros, under Ministerial Decision 313069 of 18 January 1994. The EU listed San Michali as a PDO in the Annex of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 of 12 June 1996.

Microbes
No study we found names its microbes.
  1. [greekflavours] Greek Flavours (retailer), product page 'San Michali PDO cheese, Syros Island, 250g', ingredient listweb
  2. [michali-1994-en] Ministry of Agriculture (Greece), Application for registration 'San Michali' PDO under Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92, summary of Ministerial Decision 313069/18.1.94, English summary sheet, eAmbrosia attachment 72090spec
  3. [michali-1994-fr] The same application, French summary sheet (clearer print of the method figures), eAmbrosia attachment 72092spec
  4. [reg-1107-1996] Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 of 12 June 1996 on the registration of geographical indications and designations of origin under Article 17 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92, Annex lists San Michali (PDO), OJ L 148, 21.6.1996spec
  5. [danezis2020] Danezis G.P., Tsiplakou E., Pappa E.C. et al. 2020, Fatty acid profile and physicochemical properties of Greek protected designation of origin cheeses, implications for authentication, European Food Research and Technology 246(9):1741–1753 (abstract)paper