Braided cheese is a dairy product made from strips of highly elastic cheese wound together in a braid. Turkey, Armenia, Lebanon, Syria, and many Latin American nations make varieties of braided cheese. These cheeses can be used in a variety of dishes or eaten plain. Some varieties benefit from a soak in cold water, to soften the cheese, and to remove excess salt. Syrian Akawi, Turkish and Latin American Asadero are all examples of braided cheese.