The Egyptian Roumy Cheese { The Cultural Foodie}

Egyptian Bread with Roumy Cheese

Here is an Egyptian branch of culinary heritage: Egyptian bread with Roumy cheese. Roumy cheese is a hard, salty cheese known for its intense flavors. It is often compared to Italian cheeses such as Pecorino Romano and Parmesan due to its texture and pungency.

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Ancient Origins of Egyptian Cheese

In Egypt, cheese has a deep-rooted history. It was documented in ancient Egyptian cemeteries alongside other historical and cultural recipes. The oldest known cheese was discovered in the tomb of Ptahmes, the mayor of Memphis in the 13th century BCE. Ptahmes was a high-ranking official during the reign of Seti I, one of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

The tomb included pottery vessels containing remnants of cheese made from a mix of goat, cow, and sheep milk — evidence of Egypt’s early mastery in dairy processing.

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Roumy Cheese: A Regional Name with Local Identity

Roumy cheese is also known by another name in Alexandria — Turkey cheese. Among Alexandrians, it is more common to refer to it this way, even though the cheese is entirely Egyptian in origin and has no historical connection to Turkey. The reason behind the name remains unclear.

The term "Roumy" is believed to derive from the Coptic word "Arom" or "Alom." Roumy cheese was mentioned in the Geptana book, written approximately 2,000 years ago. It was also referred to as the golden yellow cheese. The name “Arom” helped distinguish it from the soft Egyptian cottage cheese known as Qarish.

Additionally, Roumy cheese has been traditionally known as Ras cheese, referring to its circular shape (“ras” meaning “head” in Arabic). This term is still used in various academic and culinary references.

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Cultural Value and Culinary Use

Roumy cheese is not considered an economical meal in Egypt. It can be relatively expensive for many, which limits its accessibility. It remains largely unknown outside of Egypt, though it serves as a local substitute for imported cheeses like Pecorino Romano and Parmesan in various recipes, offering a similar yet distinct flavor profile.

Despite its limited online presence and global recognition, Roumy cheese holds significant cultural and historical value. Its ancient origins and unique taste make it a cheese worth celebrating as authentically Egyptian.

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References

• Greco, E., & O'Connor, D. (2018). The Discovery of the Oldest Cheese in the Tomb of Ptahmes. Analytical Chemistry, American Chemical Society.

• Darwish, M. A. (2020). Traditional Egyptian Cheeses: History and Production. Journal of Dairy Science & Technology.

• Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities (2018). Press release on the discovery of cheese in Ptahmes tomb

• Facebook page Egyptian Geographic derived from: https://share.google/uAe2uiGzu2OP2u9nv