Nablus, West Bank · Palestine
Nabulsi.
Nabulsi is a squeaky, semi-hard sheep's cheese with a clean, salty bite and subtle herbaceous notes that linger on the palate. Its distinctive rubbery texture and delicate infusions of mastic gum and nigella seeds create an almost savory-aromatic quality—it's as much about texture as taste, with a briny minerality that speaks to its ancient Palestinian roots.
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Origin
32.2°N · 35.2°E
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Nabulsi takes its name from Nablus (Nabulus) in the West Bank and has been made there for centuries. It is distinctive for being boiled in brine with mastic gum and nigella seeds (black seed), giving it a slightly rubbery, squeaky texture when fresh.
It is essential for Palestinian kunafa. There have been efforts to protect the cheese as a Palestinian geographical indication.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Sheep · pasteurised
- Family
- Brined
- Rind
- rindless
- Age
- 0–6 mo
- Intensity
- 2 / 5
- Texture
- semi-hard
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Nabulsi'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 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 Nabulsi.
39 pairings across 7 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Nabulsi are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Nabulsi at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
Take it with you
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