Savoie is renowned for its mountainous landscape and its alpine cheeses. While its cow milk counterpart Reblochon might be more famous, the little goat milk Chevrotin is just as spectacular. Read on to learn more about this pressed uncooked cheese and discover how best to pair it.
What is Chevrotin?
Chevrotin cheese is a type of pressed uncooked cheese that comes from the Savoie region of France. Actually, it is one of a staggering eight AOP or IGP cheeses that comes from this mountainous region bordering Switzerland.
It is made from raw, unpasteurized goat’s milk, which gives it a unique and distinctive flavour that sets it apart from other soft cheeses. Undoubtedly, Chevrotin cheese is treasured by cheese lovers all over the world, and is particularly popular in France and other parts of Europe. Because cheesemakers use raw milk, this cheese is currently banned in the USA and Australia.
How is Chevrotin made?
Actually, the recipe for Chevrotin is quite similar to that of Reblochon de Savoie. Of course, the main different is that local cheesemakers use raw goat’s milk instead of cow’s milk. And production takes place exclusively during the summer months when the goats are pasture-fed.
Presently, only a small number of artisanal and farmhouse dairies make this AOP cheese. Following AOP regulations, they use only unpasteurised milk and age all of their cheeses on spruce boards. Moreover, each wheel of Chevrotin is actually quite small in size, ranging from 9 cm to 12 cm in diameter.
During maturation, an affineur regularly washes each little wheel of cheese with a proprietary salt water mixture. As a result, the cheese develops a delicate off-white Geotrichum candidum rind that wraps around a soft, creamy white paste.
Flavour profile
When it comes to taste, Chevrotin cheese has a tangy, slightly savoury flavour that is balanced by a creamy and smooth texture. Some people describe the flavour of Chevrotin cheese as being similar to that of a young goat cheese, although it is slightly milder and less tangy.
As for its aroma, your nose will detect a goaty quality with pleasant notes of wild mountain flowers. This is not too surprising since the goats feed on a diet of wild herbs and flowers while they roam freely on the mountain side.
Serving guide
When it comes to pairings, Chevrotin cheese is best enjoyed with light white wines, such as a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Gris. The cheese is also great with beer, and can be enjoyed with a wheat beer or a fruity lager.
Additionally, Chevrotin cheese can be paired with fresh fruit, such as strawberries or melons, or with nuts and dried fruit, such as almonds and apricots.
Alternatives to Chevrotin
While Chevrotin is definitely a unique cheese, it can be tricky to source outside of its native France. If you’re looking for a similar experience, Préféré de Nos Montagnes, Valençay or Chabichou du Poitou are three great options that are a bit more accessible.
Thank you for reading
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