Rocamadour cheese
Rocamadour is a French cheese from the southwest part of the country. It is produced in the regions of Périgord and Quercy and takes its name from the village of Rocamadour in the département of the Lot.
| Rocamadour | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country of origin | France |
| Region, town | Périgord, Quercy |
| Town | Rocamadour |
| Source of milk | Goat |
| Pasteurized | No |
| Texture | Soft |
| Fat content | 45% |
| Weight | 30-40g |
| Aging time | 12-15 days |
| Certification | French AOC 1996 |
| Named after | Rocamadour |
 Related media on Commons | |
History
The name of the cheese was first recorded in writing in 1451, in agreement between the Bishop of Evreux and a Lord and his vassals, where the cheese was used for paying taxes.[1]
Description
Rocamadour belongs to a family of goat cheeses called Cabécous and has benefited from being accorded an AOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée) designation since 16 March 1996.[2] Raw milk is supplied from Alpine or Saan goats.[1] It is a very small soft creamy white cheese (average weight 35 g) with a flat round shape, around 4 to 5cm wide and a thickness of between 1 to 1.5cm (see illustration) and a thin, soft rind [2]
Rocamadour is usually sold very young after just 12-15 days of aging and is customarily consumed on hot toast or in salads.[3][4] Rocamadour can be aged further. After several months it takes on a more intense flavour and is typically eaten on its own with a red wine toward the end of the meal.
Production: 546 tonnes in 1998 (+24.1% since 1996), 100% with raw, unpasteurized goat milk (50% on farms).
See also
References
- Iburg, Anne (2004). Dumont's lexicon of cheese : production, origin, types, taste. Internet Archive. Lisse, Netherlands: Rebo Publishers. pp. 242–243. ISBN 978-90-366-1689-8.
- Masui, Kazuko (1996). French cheeses. Internet Archive. London: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 62–63. ISBN 978-0-7513-0346-9.
- Baboin-Jaubert, Alix (2003). Handbook of cheese. Internet Archive. London: Hachette Illustrated. p. 171. ISBN 978-1-84202-183-5.
- Barthélemy, Roland (2004). Cheeses of the world : a season by season guide to buying, storing and serving. Internet Archive. London: Hachette Illustrated. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-84430-115-7.
External links
Media related to Rocamadour (cheese) at Wikimedia Commons
- Cahier des charges AOP de l'appellation rocamadour enregistré à la Commission européenne
- Site du syndicat des producteurs de fromages Rocamadour, consulté le 30 janvier 2010.
- Rocamadour, site des fromages AOP