ON June 4, 1411, King Charles VI of France granted a monopoly for the ripening of Roquefort cheese to the people of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon.1. Roquefort cheese had already been made for centuries and it has been identified with a cheese mentioned by Pliny the Elder in AD79. Continue reading
Ossau Iraty is a classic sheep’s milk cheese made in the French Pyrénées in two neighboring provinces: the Ossau Valley and the wooded hills of Iraty in the French Basque country. Ossau Iraty is made with the milk of the Manech and Basco-Bearnaise ewes. It has been recognized as an appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) product since 1980. It is one of only two sheep’s milk cheeses granted AOC status in France (the other is Roquefort). Although Ossau-Iraty received AOC status in the 80s, it is of ancient origin, traditionally made by the shepherds in the region. Continue reading