Usually, when we hear the word cheese, we get a mental picture of France or a cheese and wine gathering – not Ambarees, which is one of the oldest cheeses in the world.
BBC did a travel story about this Lebanese cheese that originates from Baalbeck. This cheese is around 2,000 years old.
People like to spread it on saj bread or pita bread, then grill the sandwich. Ambarees, which is paired with olives, is usually consumed in winter when all the family is gathered around the stove.
Ambarees represents the traditions of Baalbeck, and it also gathers family and creates a cozy atmosphere. But this all-time-favorite cheese of the people of this region is on the verge of disappearing.
The problem is that the adopted method to make this cheese is traditional, thus, it is handmade and requires old utensils. Producers use a clay jar which is specifically designed to prepare Ambarees.
However, there is no one making these jars anymore. They are usually inherited. Rare are the households that contain Ambarees jars.
Here is a video about Ambarees by BBC!
