Levant (widespread) · Lebanon
Labneh.
Labneh is tangy creaminess captured in a spoon—silky and yogurt-soft with a subtle lactic bite that lingers gently on your palate. Rolled in olive oil and herbs, it releases the fragrance of thyme and sumac with each bite, tasting at once mild and alive, preserved yet fresh.
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Origin
33.9°N · 35.5°E
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Labneh is a strained yogurt cheese consumed throughout the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Central Asia. It has been made for millennia, serving as a preserved food in regions where refrigeration was unavailable.
The firmer balls rolled in olive oil and dried herbs can last for months. It is central to Levantine breakfast tables.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Cow · pasteurised
- Family
- Fresh
- Rind
- rindless
- Age
- 0–3 mo
- Intensity
- 2 / 5
- Texture
- soft
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Labneh'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.
Estimated values — based on similar cheese family data
Serve, cut & store
Out of the fridge,
into its prime.
Guidance for fresh 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
Slice with a wet knife or simply spoon it — fresh cheeses don't need ceremony.
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 Labneh.
45 pairings across 6 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Labneh are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Labneh 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?.
Log it, pair it, and keep your own tasting notes — Caseo is free.
