Levant · Palestine
Akkawi.
Akkawi is a pristine white cheese with a squeaky, semi-firm crumb that yields to pressure—imagine biting into something between fresh mozzarella and halloumi. Its clean, milky sweetness carries a pronounced brine salinity that tingles on the palate, with a subtle mineral coolness reminiscent of sea salt and fresh cream. The aroma is mild and dairy-forward, letting the simplicity of quality cow's milk shine through.
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Origin
32.9°N · 35.1°E
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Akkawi (named after the city of Akka/Acre, historically part of Palestine) is a white brined cheese widely used in Levantine cuisine. It is the preferred cheese for kunafa (a Middle Eastern sweet pastry with cheese).
The cheese is typically desalted by soaking in water before use in sweet preparations. It is produced commercially throughout the Middle East.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Mixed · pasteurised
- Family
- Brined
- Rind
- rindless
- Age
- 0–3 mo
- Intensity
- 2 / 5
- Texture
- semi-hard
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Akkawi's flavour and aroma notes, scaled by the cheese's overall intensity — a quick guide, not a lab measurement.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100 g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100 g serving — about a finger-thick wedge. Daily values use the FDA 2020 reference of 2,000 kcal. Expect ±5% variation between wheels.
Serve, cut & store
Out of the fridge,
into its prime.
Guidance for brined cheeses — general practice, not a per-wheel measurement.
Rest
Take it out about 20–30 min before serving — cold stiffens the fat and locks up the aromas; cool room temperature is when the flavour shows up.
Cut
Cube or slice it straight from the brine, and pat dry before it hits the board.
Store
Fresh and brined cheeses keep best covered in their liquid — and are happiest eaten within days.
Rule of thumb: the softer and riper, the longer it needs. Thick pieces need longer than thin — and don't leave cheese out much past two hours.
Pairings · Caseo curated
What goes with Akkawi.
44 pairings across 5 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Akkawi are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Akkawi at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
Take it with you
Want to remember this one?.
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