Jāņu siers: Midsummer caraway cheese

Jāņu siers is a soft to semi-firm cheese in which caraway is the defining flavour. The protected product specification documents a milk-and-curd process using egg, butter or cream, salt and caraway rather than a long-ripened cheese method.

The texture varies with moisture and preparation, but it is intended to be sliced. Caraway should be visible through the pale yellow cheese rather than added only as a surface garnish.

Latvia.travel places the cheese on the table for the summer solstice and Midsummer celebration. The round wheel is traditionally interpreted as a sun symbol, connecting the food’s form with the season.

That association is much stronger than a claim that the cheese is eaten only at Midsummer. Official tourism information notes that it can be bought during the rest of the year as well.

Jāņu siers is registered in the EU as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed. Producers using the protected name must follow the registered specification and be part of the relevant control system.

A shop may also sell ķimeņu siers, or caraway cheese. It can be closely related in style, but the descriptive name alone does not establish that it is registered Jāņu siers.

Expect a fresh dairy flavour, gentle salt and the warm, aromatic character of caraway. It is not a blue, smoked or heavily aged cheese, although modern producers may sell other caraway cheeses in those styles.

The cheese is commonly cut into wedges or slices for a shared table. Its cultural context matters most around Jāņi, when it appears alongside other celebration foods.

Supermarkets, food markets and producers may stock Jāņu siers, with the broadest visibility around Midsummer. Look for the exact protected name and quality mark if the registered product is important to you.

The cheese contains dairy and egg under the protected specification. Check the producer’s label for the precise ingredients, use-by date and storage instructions.