Canada’s finest blue?
Bleu d’Elizabeth is a blue cheese made by Fromagerie Presbytère in Québec, Canada.
Its story begins with the Louis d’Or farm in the sleepy little village of Sainte-Elizabeth-de-Warwick. Operated by the Morin family, the farm is home to a herd of Holstein and Jersey cows.
In 2005, the family decided to expand their operations and start making cheese. In order to do so, they purchased the old presbytery across the road and turned it into a cheese factory.
Inspired by Bleu d’Auvergne
Fast forward to now and their range of artisanal cheeses includes the semi-hard Louis d’Or and Bleu d’Elizabeth. To make this blue, a small team of artisan cheesemakers use a recipe inspired by Bleu d’Auvergne.
Moreover, they thermalise the milk from their cows before adding Penicillium roqueforti. Afterwards, the affineurs mature the wheels for a minimum of 60 days.
This process allows the formation of a thin natural rind and a spectacular marbling of greenish-blue veins throughout the pâte. Finally, they wrap the wheels in foil so as to preserve the internal moisture levels.
Ultimately, the finished product has a moderate blue mould aroma and a buttery mouthfeel. Besides, its flavour is savoury with hazelnut notes near the rind.
How to pair Bleu d’Elizabeth
The ideal pair for this robust blue is a fortified cider. Truly celebrate the local terroir by enjoying it with the local specialty, an ice cider.
