Chevrotin Cheese

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#209 of 377 cheese types
Chevrotin Cheese

Chevrotin is an artisanal goat's milk cheese from the Alpine regions of France. It is similar to Reblochon but made exclusively from goat's milk. Chevrotin has a washed rind and a supple, creamy texture with a slightly nutty and earthy flavor, often developing a stronger taste with maturation.

What is Chevrotin Cheese?

Chevrotin is an unpasteurized, washed-rind goat's milk cheese crafted in France's Savoie and Haute-Savoie regions. It originated in the seventeenth century, initially produced from excess milk by Savoie Mountains inhabitants for personal use, later expanding to wider distribution.

By 2015, twenty-two producers and four affineurs were involved in its production, solidified by its AOC in 2002 and AOP status in 2005. Each producer typically manages a herd of 60 to 120 goats, primarily the Alpine Chamoisée breed, required to graze at around 6,100 feet elevation within designated zones, including the Massif du Mont Blanc and Aravis. Annually, approximately 70 tons of Chevrotin are produced.

Chevrotin's production mirrors that of Reblochon, forming small rounds between 9–12 ounces. The cheese is carefully made, starting with rennet coagulation of the milk, followed by cutting the curd into tiny grains, molding, pressing for twelve hours, then maturing on spruce shelves where they are turned and washed daily for a week, and finally aged in caves for three weeks.

The cheese features a pinkish rind with a white mold dusting and an ivory, soft, slightly elastic paste when young, dotted with small holes. It offers a mild yet distinctive flavor, enriched with notes of alpine flowers and a hint of goatiness. Chevrotin pairs delightfully with light Savoie wines, as well as Cotes du Rhone, Bandol, and Saint-Joseph. Its availability peaks in the summer and autumn, closely tied to the natural milking cycles of the goats, making it scarce during the winter months.

Key Facts About Chevrotin Cheese

Country of Origin France
Specific Origin Savoie and Haute-Savoie
Certification AOC (2002), AOP (2005)
Milk Type Goat's Milk
Milk Treatment Unpasteurized
Rind Washed-rind
Texture Soft, unctuous
Flavor Mild, Caprine
Aroma Gentle Caprine, woody, farmyard
Colors Pinkish, ivory
Forms Small rounds
Age 21+ days
Rennet Type Rennet