Tomme de Savoie

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Tomme de Savoie is a mild, semi-firm cow's milk cheese from Savoy in the French Alps. It is made from the skimmed milk left over from butter making, so the fat content stays low, and it carries a thick brownish-grey rind over a beige interior.

Key Facts

Country of Origin France
Specific Origin Savoy, French Alps, France
Protection PGI (1996)
Milk Type Cow's milk
Milk Treatment Skimmed or unpasteurized
Fat Content 20 to 45%
Rind Natural
Texture Semi-soft, artisan
Flavor Grassy, nutty, tangy
Colors Ivory
Forms Discs about 18 cm (7 in) across, 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) thick, 1 to 2 kg (2 to 4 lb)
Age Several months
Also Known As Tomme de Savoie IGP

What is Tomme de Savoie Cheese?

Tomme de Savoie is the upland member of the tomme family, made in Savoy in the French Alps. The cheese dates back to ancient history.

It begins with skimmed milk, what remains after the cream has gone into butter or richer cheeses. That is why the fat content sits between 20 and 45 percent. The curd is pressed first, then the wheels mature for several months in a traditional cellar, which builds the thick rind and the flavor.

Wheels are discs of roughly 18 cm (7 in) across and 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) thick, weighing 1 to 2 kg (2 to 4 lb). The paste is beige and semi-firm. The rind is thick and brownish grey. The taste is mild.

Production runs all year, and the cheese shows a slightly different character depending on whether the cows have been eating winter hay or summer grass.