The entire region of Mountainous Trichonida, which consists of villages belonging to the municipality of Thermos in Aetolia-Acarnania, as well as villages in mountainous Nafpaktia, and also a section of the Panaitoliko mountain range and the mountainous region of the municipality of Agrinio, are inhabited by people who work exclusively in the livestock farming sector. Over 1,000 livestock farmers move their herds to this mountainous area to graze.
The relief of the landscape, which consists of water and rich grasslands with flora rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and aromatic herbs, creates and impressive scene and is ideal for pasture raising and for the establishment of livestock farms.
In this region PAPATHANASIOU creates its products by taking advantage of the precious gifts of nature and the Greek earth, in excellent collaboration with the livestock farmers and farms in the area.
Livestock farming had a strong presence in the wider area, according to texts written by the captains in the area, during the Greek Revolution of 1821, when herds formed the basic supply of meat and dairy products for the klephts and armatoloi, military units supported by the captains themselves.
Around 1850, under a decree issued by Otto, according to the State General Archives, the pieces of land in the area (Prefecture of Aetolia and Acarnania with the provinces of Nafpaktos, Trichonida, Acarnania, Evrytania in Valtos Province, Kravara, Agrinio, Messolonghi, Zygos) were given to the inhabitants of each village to use. Evrytania, which is both a mountainous and rocky area, was dominated by the summer grasslands, while Trichonida and Galatas in Messolonghi were dominated by the winter grasslands. Sheep prevailed in the lowlands and plains, while goats prevailed in the mountainous and rocky areas. All the animals were light eaters, local breeds and had low yields.
Cheese was made using rennet in special barrels (talaria) for each type, which were made of special wood, mainly cedar and fir, and also in sacks (touloumia) made from properly treated animal skins.