CheeseShop

CheeseShop CheeseShop can be found at the popular Nelson Market on Saturdays and Motueka Sunday Market. You won't be disappointed in the quality

Visit us to taste the best of NZ gourmet cheeses which are aged and ripened by traditional methods here in Nelson.

CHEESEQUEST2026 Day 12 - ThessalonikiIt's all Greek to me Travel day as we left an amazing but not particularly cheesy T...
31/05/2026

CHEESEQUEST2026

Day 12 - Thessaloniki

It's all Greek to me

Travel day as we left an amazing but not particularly cheesy Turkiye and ended up in Greece.

Still had time for some quick market scouting. I found several potential cheese sources, but was most amazed at the vast selection of Feta and feta-like cheese.

I might have to do a special feta episode.

Meanwhile lots of eateries have cheese on their menus.

Skotyri of los - feta-like with the outer part being much creamier. Also loaded with thyme for a herby touch.

Aged Manoura of Andros - Manoura is made using grape must as an outer layer to protect and flavour it. Spicy with a long finish. Not for everyone.

Bournias of Andros - this was slightly grainy as it melted in you mouth. It reminded me of our local sheep's cheese several months after the best by date. Too strong for most, but tasty for me.

Masthiha of Andros - this uses a mastiha rub on the outside. Don't know what mastiha is? Most people don't. It's herbal and piney and helps create this wonderful uniquely flavoured cheese.



Quest: 30/500

Steps: 212,600

CHEESEQUEST2026 Day 11A day for wandering We wanted to just wander the city, so wandering we did. Over 25,000 steps late...
30/05/2026

CHEESEQUEST2026

Day 11

A day for wandering

We wanted to just wander the city, so wandering we did. Over 25,000 steps later we were tired.

The most exciting thing was seeing a live episode of pigeon rescue. These handsome firemen came to our restaurant and saved a pigeon that was stuck between glass panes several floors up.

Again, this didn't leave a lot of time for new cheese. The biggest issue being the breakfasts just have the same basic cheeses each time. This hotel did add a blue cheese so I was very excited.

Unfortunately, it was roquefort. This is my favourite cheese in the world, but this one hadn't traveled well and I can't add it to the quest.

Orgu - I can add this braided stretchy cheese. Very much like a mild and stringy mozzarella.

Misket - little balls of mild cheese. Again, very similar to a mozzarella, but being little balls, not so stringy.



Quest: 26/500

Steps: 203,500

CHEESEQUEST2026 Day 10Getting a grillingWe're in Kusadasi where everything is built for cruise ships visiting the magnif...
30/05/2026

CHEESEQUEST2026

Day 10

Getting a grilling

We're in Kusadasi where everything is built for cruise ships visiting the magnificent ancient ruins of Ephesus. Anker travel is a local company that made our whole Turkiye trip easy and especially this last part.

So, not much time for questing.

Izgara Koy - grilled cottage cheese. A new thing for me, and delicious, so it counts.



Quest: 24/500

Steps: 178,100

CHEESEQUEST2026 Day 9Flights of fancy Took an amazing balloon ride that had absolutely nothing to do with cheese.Then mo...
29/05/2026

CHEESEQUEST2026

Day 9

Flights of fancy

Took an amazing balloon ride that had absolutely nothing to do with cheese.

Then most of the day was travel as we flew to Izmir airport and the were driven down to Kusadasi.

Sigura Boregi - not a cheese per se, but a cheese spring roll. Like a little cheese cigar except tasty and crunchy. I'm counting it and I make the rules.

Quest: 23/500

Steps: 159,200

CHEESEQUEST2026 Day 8Spinning potsHighlight of the day was a tour of an underground city that could hold up to 20,000 pe...
28/05/2026

CHEESEQUEST2026

Day 8

Spinning pots

Highlight of the day was a tour of an underground city that could hold up to 20,000 people.

It didn't start out that big, it was mostly just basements under each house. But as they went deeper and started connecting they found it easier to do things like make and age wine and cheese.

One of the traditional ways they make cheese in Anatolia was in clay pots. They just call it pot cheese and again every village has its own style.

I've pictured some from the market here, but tried it with dinner listed on the menu as 'terracotta cheese' because that sounds fancier. It was delicious. Like a soft and fluffy feta but without too much saltiness.

I also got a cheese plate with mostly cheese I've already had but the black sesame Tulum was new. It was a mild Tulum, not aged that long, but the seeds gave it a very nice extra layer of flavor.



Quest: 22/500

Steps: 153,900

CHEESEQUEST2026 Day 7A day at the morning marketOf course, I can't pass up any farmer's market when I find one so I was...
27/05/2026

CHEESEQUEST2026

Day 7

A day at the morning market

Of course, I can't pass up any farmer's market when I find one so I was delighted to head down to the Urgup Saturday market. Urgup only has 30,000 people, but their market was even bigger than the Nelson Market.

Fortunately, the first to set up were the dairy sellers, with cheese, butter, and yogurts. Here I had a good chat with them about their products and about how regional cheese was in Turkiye.

Most of what they sell are variants of Beyaz the white feta-like cheese that is everywhere. I bought a container of mixed cheese, so I'm just calling it White Cheese like the locals.

I also got another type of string cheese, Chechil. This is a saltier, skim milk version.

Antakya Surk - A regionally protected sun-dried cottage cheese that is sold in little cones. It contains olive oil and lots of spices like wild thyme, chilli, cumin, and garlic. Amazing, but very strong and crumbly.

Fume Sacakli - Smoked string cheese. Genius.



Quest: 20/500

Steps: 131,400

CHEESEQUEST2026Day 6A horse at the gate A long day trip to Troy gave an opportunity to catch up on some of the cheeses w...
26/05/2026

CHEESEQUEST2026

Day 6

A horse at the gate

A long day trip to Troy gave an opportunity to catch up on some of the cheeses we picked up along the way.

Cesnili Sepet - colorful and herby. Not as much flavor as you'd expect with its colour.

Dil - one of the many string style cheeses. This one tends to be used with shorter cuts and eaten at breakfasts. Not as flavorful as Til.

Isli - smoked cheese. They don't have a lot of smoked cheeses, so this one stands out. Mild, like a smoked Edam.

Mihalic - the local version of parmesan.



Quest: 16/500

Steps: 114,400

CHEESEQUEST2026 Day 5We need to talk about TulumTulum is a traditional Goat's cheese from Anatolia. After processing it...
26/05/2026

CHEESEQUEST2026

Day 5

We need to talk about Tulum

Tulum is a traditional Goat's cheese from Anatolia. After processing it is traditionally stuffed into a goat skin for aging at least 6 months in a cave.

Commercial Tulum is a bit more bland, and ends up aged in plastic barrels. This cheese has less flavor and is more prone to mold than traditional Tulum.

Like most cheese styles, every region has a slightly different take and processing making a huge variety of Tulum available to hungery cheesemongers.

Erzincon is a very popular one and I have had it at the hotel breakfasts.

Izmir is a little special. It adds a salty brine step in the production process and is finished off in cans.

Kargi used autumnal milk and has a distinct odor of wine. Yum.

Bez is much stronger, slightly mealy, and 'stimulating '.

Other regional variants include Divie and Cimi.

I have come to believe that the large number of cats everywhere is due to the presence of so much cheese, which they all seem to love.



Quest: 12/500

Steps: 97,200

CHEESEQUEST2026 Day 4A market of cheeses.With the holiday gone we felt brave enough to venture back into the market wher...
25/05/2026

CHEESEQUEST2026

Day 4

A market of cheeses.

With the holiday gone we felt brave enough to venture back into the market where we knew we could find cheesemongers.

We had plenty of success including visiting Dorukoglu Gida, Kervan, Aksut Mandira, and Dogus Sut.

Bought lots of cheese and will be reviewing as it is consumed, but for today this little sample of four cheeses will do.

Van Ostlu - feta-like white cheese from Van. Traditionally aged a bit and with herbs added. Sheep milk.

Walnut Tulum - Goat's milk cheese with walnuts. I'll do a whole section on Tulum later so that's it for now.

Kars Grauyer - The local version of Gruyere. More like Emmental in taste though.

Eski Kasar - Kasar is the traditional yellow cheese, and Eski is the aged version. Very like cheddar in taste and use but not as strong or tangy.

Disappointment of the day. A cheese toastie. White bread but was unbuttered on outside, and very boring slab of tasteless cheese in middle. Almost started a fight. To sad to take a picture.

Weird note of the day. Hey, the Europa football final was tonight. Aston Villa vs Freiburg. Congrats to Aston and their legion of beer soaked fans who we carefully avoided and who took all the taxis in Istanbul.



Quest: 8/500

Steps: 92,200

CHEESEQUEST2026Day 3A New HopeToday began with a selection of breakfast cheeses.Beyaz - Soft white sheep cheese very sim...
23/05/2026

CHEESEQUEST2026

Day 3

A New Hope

Today began with a selection of breakfast cheeses.

Beyaz - Soft white sheep cheese very similar to Feta.

Kasar Taze - A very plain yellow cheese, with Taze being the mild form. Boring.

Tel - One of the string cheese varieties that are common in Turkiye. This one I found a bit too salty and not as stringy as the ones from my childhood.

Lor - Not a superman villain. Made from leftover curds this looks like dried out cottage cheese but with the flavour removed.

We attempted to visit some local cheese shops, but as you can see in the photo it was a bit too crowded. It was a national holiday and you could literally be crushed to death trying to cross a market isle. We had to abandon the quest for the day.

The big win of the day was discovering Kunefe. This cheese-based desert was incredible. If you're very very lucky you may see it at the Mousetrap in the future.

Quest: 4/500

Steps: 79,900

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137 Lodder Lane Riwaka
Nelson
7198

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+6435284242

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