Savoyard cheese – the best in the world
The department of Savoie is one of the best known cheese producing regions in France, if not the world. Some of these brands of cheese include Savoie Gruyère, Reblochon, Beaufort and Tomme de Savoie, which are the most famous in the region.
Gruyère is a hard yellow cheese made from cow’s milk, named after the town of Gruyeres in Switzerland. Gruyère is generally known as one of the finest cheeses for baking, having a distinctive but not overpowering taste. Although the brand is originally from Switzerland the Savoie style of Gruyère is just as flavored as the original.
Beaufort is a hard, rather sharp cheese made from cow’s milk and is similar to Gruyère. It is produced in the area around Beaufort located high in the French Alps in the Savoie region of France. It is this high altitude that imparts Beaufort with a unique flavor.
Reblochon is a soft washed-rind cheese made from raw cow’s milk. Reblochon has a nutty taste that remains in mouth after its soft and uniform center has been enjoyed. It is an essential ingredient of tartiflette, a Savoyard casserole dish made from potatoes, cream, onions, and bacon.
Tomme de Savoie is a variety of Tomme cheese from Savoie in the French Alps. It is a mild, semi-firm cow’s milk cheese with a beige interior and a thick brownish-gray rind. Like most Tommes, it’s usually made from the skim milk left over after the cream is used to make butter or richer cheeses, thus it is less fatter then most cheeses.