(Jāņi, John's Cheese)
Jāņu siers is a fresh cheese made from milk and curds, to which butter or cream, eggs, salt and caraway seeds are added. The reason why Jāņu siers is so unique lies in the traditional production methods and correct proportions of ingredients used giving this cheese its distinctive color and flavors, all of which have remained unchanged for hundreds of years.
When translated into English, Janu siers means John's cheese because it is always made at summer solstice for the festival of Jani, on the eve of St. John's. Even the round shape of Jāņu siers has a special meaning – it symbolises the sun and the world and when eaten, it is believed that a person takes part of the sun's energy.
Traditional preparation methods require that the cheese is wrapped in a way that the knot is in the centre of the cheese, and the folds of the fabric are arranged in such a manner that imprints are created on the surface. This way, the famous 'Jāņu siera viducītis' ('the middle of the Jāņu siers') is made and the folds leave traces that look like Jāņu siera viducītis ('the middle of the Jāņu siers') is made and the folds leave traces that look like sun rays.
The cheese is moderately salty and has a clean, lactic-acid flavor and the aroma of caraway seeds.
