Urfa butter (Turkish: Urfa yaği), also called Urfa clarified butter (Turkish: Urfa sadeyaği), is a type of clarified butter made from sheep's milk that is distinct to the Turkish city of Urfa and the surrounding region.^[1]: 1–2 It is produced from the milk of the Üveysi sheep pastured on the southern outskirts of the Karaca Dağ and on the Tektek Dağ.^{[1]: 1–2 [2]: 9} The plants growing in these hilly regions form part of the sheep's diet and impart a slightly distinct flavor to their milk.^[1]: 1–2 Like other sheep's milk products, Urfa butter has a high percentage of milk fat.^[1]: 1–2 Besides Urfa itself, Urfa butter is also made in other parts of Şanlıurfa province, such as Siverek, Viranşehir, Ceylanpınar, and Harran.^[1]: 1–2

Production

There is no single, standardized production method for Urfa butter, so its composition and fat content can vary somewhat depending on the sample.^[2]: 12 The sheep are milked in the spring, and the milk is boiled.^[1]: 1–2 Then the milk is churned to produce butter, which is then melted to separate the butterfat from the milk solids and water.^[2]: 9 Today the clarifying process is done by machine, but in the past it was done manually in containers made from animal skins.^[1]: 1–2

References