Nationwide · Bulgaria
Sirene.
Sirene is a pristine white canvas of tang and salt—a cheese that tastes like the Balkan sun captured in brine. Its texture walks a fine line between creamy and crumbly, yielding to the bite with a clean, lactic bite that's neither aggressive nor shy. The brine clings to your palate with a mineral sharpness that makes your mouth water for more.
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The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Sirene is Bulgaria's national cheese and a staple of Bulgarian cuisine. It is a white brined cheese made from cow, sheep, or goat milk, and is central to Shopska salad (Bulgaria's signature dish).
Similar cheeses are produced throughout the Balkans under various names. It predates recorded Bulgarian history and is thought to have been made since ancient Thracian times.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Mixed · pasteurised
- Family
- Brined
- Rind
- rindless
- Age
- 1–4 mo
- Intensity
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
Caseo's flavour axes are calibrated against reference cheeses. This is Sirene's fingerprint.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100g 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
Pairings · Caseo curated
What goes with Sirene.
26 pairings across 7 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Spirits
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Sirene are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.