Matzoon

Matzoon[1] (Armenian: մածուն matsun) or matsoni (Georgian: მაწონი mats'oni) is a fermented milk product of Armenian origin,[2][3][4] found in Caucasian cuisine, particularly in Armenia[5] and Georgia.[6] It is very similar to yogurt. It is made with Lactobacillus acidophilus (original only), Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus lactic acid bacteria.[7]

Matzoon is made from cow's milk (mostly), goat's milk, sheep's milk, buffalo milk, or a mix of them and a culture from previous productions.

Etymology

The name of the product originates from Armenian matz (sour, glue).[8][9][10] The product is widely mentioned by medieval Armenian writers, e.g. Grigor Magistros (11th century), Hovhannes Erznkatsi (13th century), Grigor Tatevatsi (14th century) and others.[10] Grigor Magistros, in his Definition of Grammar, gave the correct etymology of the word.[11][10][12]

Difference between Armenian matzoon and Georgian matsoni

While matsoni originally just been usual matzoon, it switched from Lactobacillus acidophilus to Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (used in yogurt) and Streptococcus thermophilus (used in kefir) due to much simplier fermentation process. In another hand, only original matzoon with Lactobacillus acidophilus can provide full recovering of internal bacteries and be used with no limits of age. In Armenia original matzoon called sour matzoon, while Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus called sweet matzoon. Matzoon also used as main ingridient of the ancient Armenian drink called Tahn, which became popular in all Asia under different names.

References

  1. ↑ Also spelled matsoon, matsoun, matzoun, madzoon, madzoun, macun, matson
  2. ↑ Lawrence Eldred Kirk // Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1948 , p. 12 (41) "Matzoon or mazun, originating in Armenia. A lactobacillus (L. mazun) , a streptococcus, a spore-producing bacillus and a sugar- fermenting yeast are responsible for the fermentation of this product."
  3. ↑ Joseph A. Kurmann, Jeremija Lj Rašić, Manfred Kroger: Encyclopedia of fermented fresh milk products: an international inventory of fermented milk, cream, buttermilk, whey, and related products, p. 212. Springer, 1992. ISBN 978-0-442-00869-7. "MATZOON (En); mazun (Fr, De); matsun, matsoni, maconi.
    Short Description: Of Armenian origin; Georgia, Caucasus (USSR); traditional product; the milk of ewes, goats, buffalo, or cows or mixtures thereof; yoghurtlike product traditionally made from boiled milk and an undefined starter culture; firm consistency and acidic flavor.
    Microbiology: Traditional product made with undefined starter culture consisting of thermophilic and mesophilic lactic streptococci and thermophilic lactobacilli, and often with yeasts. Starter culture with defined microflora: proposed Streptococcus thcrmopbilus and Lactobacillus dclbmeckii subsp. buligaricus.
    Related Product: Yoghurt."
  4. ↑ Columbia Encyclopedia // fermented milk // The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Columbia University Press.
  5. ↑ The Encyclopedia Americana , Vol. 18 p. 446 Americana Corp, 1977 г. - ISBN 0-7172-0108-2, ISBN 978-0-7172-0108-2 "MATZOON, mat-soon', a milk food used in Armenia; prepared by exposing milk in open vessels to a heat of 90°F., and when coagulation takes place the curd is broken up by a churning process and salt is added."
  6. ↑ Darra Goldstein. The Georgian Feast: The Vibrant Culture and Savory Food of the Republic of Georgia. University of California Press, 1999, p. 34
  7. ↑ Kenji Uchidai, Tadasu Urashima, Nino Chaniashvili, Ikiti Arai, Hidemasa Motoshima. Major microbiota of lactic acid bacteria from Matsoni, a traditional Georgian fermented milk. Animal Science Journal, 78 (2007) 85. doi:10.1111/j.1740-0929.2006.00409.x
  8. ↑ merriam-webster dictionary /matzoon
  9. ↑ Collins English Dictionary / matzoon
  10. 1 2 3 H. Adjarian, Armenian Etymological Dictionary, Yerevan, 1971, vol. 3, pp. 228-229
  11. ↑ Nicholas Adontz, «Дионисий Фракийский и армянские толкователи.», Saint Petersburg, 1915, p. 228. "Մածուն քանզի մածեալ է, սոյնպէս և անուանի." Approximate translation: "Matzoon, since it's gluey, hence it is called so."
  12. ↑ ed: A. Desnitskaya, S. Katsnelson, «История лингвистических учений. Средневековый Восток.». "Nauka", Saint Petersburg, 1981, p. 17
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