Zhongya

Zhongya
Other names	Zhongia
Source of milk	Senadonian Tkha
Pasteurised	No
Texture	Creamy
Aging time	min. 8 months
Certification	UTS

Zhongya (ჟონგია, Zhongia) is a traditionally Senadonian brined curd cheese made from the milk of a Senadonian Tkha. Typically ripened, Zhongya cheese is produced in a white grainy block, which is then crumbled. Zhongya is typically used to top off the Senadonian Salad, but is also used as a regional topping for salads. Zhongya itself is also served with the Imedian Whiteberry, typically the Imedian Highlander Snowberry to balance the saltiness/sourness of Zhongya or to enhance the sweetness of the Imedian Whiteberry.

Zhongya itself has many variations across Imedio, however each one goes by a different name with Zhongya affixed at the end. The majority of Zhongya cheese variations are made using the same recipe with tweaks to certain instructions or to the base of the milk, which is usually a difference in the regional Tkha. Traditional Zhongya is referred to as Dzveli Zhongya, which infers the original base of a Senadonian Tkha with the original recipe of blending and creation. Today Zhongya is identified as an Akannus cuisine, meaning within races of the Akannites, Zhongya is universally shared in cuisine.

Etymology

The name Zhongya has had its origins lost. It is suggested that it is a constructed word that originates from Pre-Timeless Era, specifically during the Akannite Golden Era under the Ghadamian Sabaphos. Zhong (ჟონგ) came to represent milk that originated from a Tkha, while ya (ია) came to represent the product of that milk. Zhongya itself as a word is archiac and only used to refer to the cheese, as both Zhong and Ya as individual words were eliminated from vocabulary, as they were never fully used within Akannite vocabulary.

Zhongya is typically represented with , a ligature that uses Asomtavruli, an ancient form of writing Akannite. The character Ⴃ with a Ⴀ superimposed on the empty area, it spells out და in modern script. Pronounced "da", the ligature has come to represent manufacturers that produce Zhongya. Its original meaning is understood to be "and", but has shifted to be a representation of Zhongya.

Production & Processing

Zhongya is made using a base of whole Tkha milk, traditionally only using Tkha milk sourced from the Senadonian Tkha. The milk is not pasturized to retain its original culture and keep the salty, acidic flavor. The Zhongya, at this point a curd, is then drained of whey using a specially created cloth bag specifically made to drain whey using rennet. They are then sliced and placed within a wooden barrel or a metal container. The curd is salted until a 5% salinity is achieved. Afterwards, the curd is left to infuse with the salt for several days. After infusion, the cheese is then brined with a 6% in water solution kept at specifically around a 80°F temperature. The use of a wooden barrel is preferable as it imparts a unique aging flavor, and remains uncontaminated with any metallic ions that could be introduced into the cheese.

Zhongya at minimum must be aged for 8 months, but can be aged for longer. The Zhongya barrel must then be inspected for possible infections or descripencies in the production process. All Zhongya barrels are inspected by the Zhongya Inspection Committee and afterwards sent to the regional office in order for the barrel to recieve its proper certification. As it is recognized as a UTS, regional variations are allowed by all must meet the minimum standards of its recipe, production and result. Barrels are marked with proper stamping indicating its region, the regional production method, its original production date and a UTS standard marking. Zhongya that is prepared in a metallic container is marked as such that it was produced in that method, and is transferred to a wooden container.

Zhongya is typically imported as opposed to produced in the planets of Lesath, Calagains, Sinindroli, Iridesa, Nagrium and Serenope Regulus. Production on these planets is allowed, but almost never happens with the exception of Calagains.

Classification and Marketing

Zhongya largest supplier, maker and importer is the Senadon-Serenope Institute of Zhongya, a business based in Senadon that makes specifically Dzveli Zhongya. It is considered to be the ultimate authority over the production and is responsible for the creation of the Zhongya Inspection Committee in alliance with several other companies throughout Imedio. Since the establishment of the Zhongya Inspection Committee, the Institute of Zhongya has also established the Classification Standards of Zhongya, which specifies the age of the Zhongya using a prefix.

Typically non-authorized manufacturers and suppliers will not have these prefixes attached, as only Fresh-grade Zhongya is produced by non-authoritzed manufacturers in packages due to the limited quantity of authorized barrels of Zhongya.

Prefix	Age Period	Notes
Akhali - ახალი Fresh	8 months	Creamy, typically fresh out of the barrel Zhongya cheese. The cheapest classfication, it can be used as a hard spread or as soft sticky crumbles. Sold as a small solid block, cubes, rectangular slices, curmbled, or in the marked barrel.
Akt’iuri - აქტიური ყველი Active	9 months	Creamy, smooth Zhongya cheese. The most often sold classification, Zhongya begins to become more solid and crumbly. Sold as a small solid block, cubes, retangular slices, crumbled, or in the marked barrel.
Akt’iuri Sarezervo - აქტიური სარეზერვო Active Reserve	10 months	Creamy, smooth Zhongya cheese. Sold typically as a small solid block, as cubes, curmbled, or in the marked barrel.
Sarezervo - სარეზერვო Reserve	11 months	Creamy, firm Zhongya cheese. At this point, Zhongya begins to get a strong sour taste while its texture becomes more firm. Typically sold as a small solid block, cubes, curmbled, or in the marked barrel.
Khelosani Sarezervo - ხელოსანი სარეზერვო Artisan Reserve	12 months	Creamy, firm Zhongya cheese. Khelosani Sarezervo begins to impart a tangy taste, and is more firmer. Only sold as a small solid block, curmbled, or in the marked barrel.
Serenop’iuli Sarezervo - სერენოპიული სარეზერვო Serenopian Reserve	16 months	Creamy, firm Zhongya cheese, made specifically from Tkha sourced from the area around Serenope. Only sold as a medium sized solid block, rectangular, or in the marked barrel.
Ast’iliuri Sarezervo - ასტილიური სარეზერვო Astillian Reserve	16.5 months	Creamy, firm Zhongya cheese, made specfically from Tkha sourced from the area around Astillia. Typically more yellowed colored, only sold as a medium sized solid block, curmbled, or in the marked barrel.
Senadonuri Sarezervo - სენადონური სარეზერვო Senadonian Reserve	18 months	Firm Zhongya cheese, made specifically in Senadon with traditional Senadonian Tkha. Produced only in licensed Senadonian cheese houses, only sold as a large solid or in the marked barrel.
Asatiani Tetri - ასათიანი თეთრი Asatiani Product	20 months	Firm Zhongya cheese, made specifically from Tkha sourced from the area around Asatiani and K'anama. Only sold as a large solid block or in the marked barrel.
Senadonuri Khelosani Sarezervo - სენადონური ხელოსანი სარეზერვო Senadonian Artisan Reserve	24 months	Form Zhongya cheese, made specifically in Senadon with traditional Senadonian Tkha. Produced only by licensed families passed down to current generation, only sold in a barrel.

Description

Dzveli Zhongya

Dzveli Zhongya is the most produced type of Zhonga. Simply referred to as Zhongya, it is a white brined cheese. Zhongya lacks a skin or crust, with a creamy texture with a firm and smooth touch. Its taste is usually described as a mild saltiness with the same creamy and smooth texture. Zhongya does not melt easily due to the brining and is aged for 8 months. Lower quality or less aged Zhongya is typically creamier, with a lack of graininess. Sometimes it is packaged specifically as a cream, where High quality Zhongya is aged for longer, typically for a period of 10-12 months, imparting a significantly more sour taste.

Dzveli Zhongya is seen as a base of Zhongya and for its pricing, as such it typically priced dependent on its age. Fresh, Active, Active Reserve, Reserve and Artisan Reserve are all sold at cheaper prices compared to regional prefixed Zhongya.

Serenop’iuli Zhongya

Serenop’iuli Zhongya is Zhongya that is produced within the area around Serenope. Otherwise referred to as Serenopian Zhongya, it is much different as it is prepared slightly different from Dzveli Zhongya that imparts a completely different texture. Serenop'iuli Zhongya uses milk that is made from Serenopian Tkha, which is then flavored squeezed juices from the Imedian Serenopian Whiteberry when added to the brine. It is then aged and marked. The addition of the Imedian Serenopian Whiteberry detracts the saltiness of a Zhongya cheese with slightly sweet aftertaste which creates a much more complex taste to the cheese. Serenopian Zhongya is semi-hard and unlike other Zhongya variants, lack holes.

Typically aged long, it is aged for 16 months. It is cut into retangular pieces when prepared, and can be fried. Its texture is typically more elastic and sticky than typical Dzveli Zhongya and can be smeared easily. It is the lowest priced of the regional variants of Zhongya but is higher than non-regional variants of Zhongya due to its age. It is much more readily available than Ast’iliuri Zhongya. Within the markets and the Zhongya aging system, cheese that are produced and aged in the requirements, being sourced from Serenope and aged for 16 months, they are apart of the Serenopian Reserve.

Ast’iliuri Zhongya

Ast’iliuri Zhongya is Zhongya that is produced within the area around Astillia. Otherwise referred to as Astillian Zhongya, it is yellow as opposed to white since it is sourced from both the Astillian Tkha and the Melchedze Tskhvari, with the Tskhvari giving off a yellow tinge. Ast’iliuri Zhongya also lacks a skin or crust, but have a much more dryer texture due to the addition of milk from the Tskvari. Aged within a barrel to give a richer taste and smoothen the typically dryer texture, the combination will give the Ast'iliuri Zhongya a more buttery flavor on top of the salty taste.

When served, Ast’iliuri Zhongya is typically served alongside additives that hide the dryer texture, such as herbs or oils. Typically Ast’iliuri Zhongya is priced higher than non-regional variants of Dzveli Zhongya, and is priced equal to that of Serenopian Reserve. Ast’iliuri Zhongya is aged for a period of 16 and a half months to garner a salty taste. Within the markets and the Zhongya aging system, cheese that are produced and aged in the requirements, being sourced from Astillia and aged for 16.5 months, they are apart of the Astillian Reserve.

Asatiani Tetri Zhongya

Asatiani Tetri Zhongya is Zhongya that is produced within the area around Asatiani.