Armenians
have produced cheese for thousands of years.
The home cheese making traditions
were passed on from generation to generation.
Armenian string cheese
is a pasta filata similar to mozzarella: the fresh, soft curd is pulled
to create long strands.
For KARLACTI string
cheeses, the curd is seasoned with mahleb, a Middle Eastern spice made from
ground sour cherry pits, and nigella seeds (also known as black cumin or black
caraway), which impart a peppery, slightly bitter flavor.