Cheese making experience in Nicosia

Meet Deniz and Gunay

Deniz learned cooking from her grandmother and mother, Gunay. And Gunay learned to cook from her grandmother and mother! Both of them are very passionate about cooking using old school, traditional methods. They have also been making traditional jams, marmalade and a special cheese called Hellim, which is made from sheep and goat milk. Through this experience you will get to visit a small village and learn first-hand about Turkish Cypriot foods and way of life. Also, learn about growing fruits and vegetables and how to make cheese from scratch. <br><br>“I want to share my culture and keep our traditions alive, while providing guests with a memorable experience admist nature”

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Food tour (1 - 6 guests) This Hellim cheese making experience takes place on Deniz and Gunay’s seven-acre property. They live in a traditional Cypriot house with a beautiful garden full of naturally grown fruits and vegetables, including figs, oranges, pomegranates and apricots. They also have an animal farm, home to sheep, chickens, rabbits and dogs, who are free to roam the gardens and love spending time with guests!

You will be welcomed with some homemade lemonade before you get a tour of the property. Walk through the garden and learn about the fruits and vegetables and how they are grown. You will also get to taste a few fruits depending on the season. Then proceed to learn about how they take care of the animals on the farm. Next learn from Deniz and Gunay the traditional way of making Hellim cheese from scratch. It is a semi-hard, unripe, brined cheese made from a mixture of goat and sheep's milk.

After you learn the art of cheese making, learn to make a traditional cheese pastry, pirohu, dumplings made by wrapping unleavened dough around a savory or sweet filling and cooking in boiling water, or pan-frying. Later sit down at the dining table to share your creations with your hosts. Your light menu might include dishes such as homemade cheese, jams, kleftiko (sheep kebaps cooked in an oven) and seasonal vegetables.