Reblochon (French: [ʁəblɔʃɔ̃]) is a soft washed-rind and smear-ripened[1] French cheese made in the Alpine region of Haute-Savoie from raw cow's milk. It has its own AOC designation.
| Reblochon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country of origin | France |
| Region | Alps valley, Arly valley (Aravis Range) |
| Source of milk | Cows |
| Pasteurised | No |
| Texture | Soft washed-rind, smear-ripened[1] |
| Fat content | 45% |
| Weight | 450 g (avg) |
| Aging time | 6–8 weeks |
| Certification | French AOC 1958 |
 Related media on Commons | |
Reblochon was first produced in the Thônes and Arly valleys, in the Aravis massif. Thônes remains the centre of Reblochon production; the cheeses are still made in the local cooperatives. Until 1964 Reblochon was also produced in Italian areas of the Alps. Subsequently, the Italian cheese has been sold in declining quantities under such names as Rebruchon and Reblò alpino.
History
editReblochon derives from the word "reblocher" which when literally translated means "to pinch a cow's udder again". This refers to the practice of holding back some of the milk from the first milking. During the 14th century, the landowners would tax the mountain farmers according to the amount of milk their herds produced. The farmers would therefore not fully milk the cows until after the landowner had measured the yield. The milk that remains is much richer, and was traditionally used by the dairymaids to make their own cheese.
In the 16th century the cheese also became known as "fromage de dévotion" (devotional cheese) because it was offered to the Carthusian monks of the Thônes Valley by the farmers, in return for having their homesteads blessed.
U.S. unavailability
editReblochon has not been available in the United States since 2004, as it is unpasteurised and has not been sufficiently aged to pass U.S. import laws concerning the pasteurization of soft and semi-soft cheese.[2] Delice du Jura, a pasteurized soft ripened cheese, is being marketed as a close relative and a good substitute in the United States.[3] Préféré de nos Montagnes and Raclette can also be used as substitutes.
Characteristics
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Reblochon is a soft washed-rind and smear-ripened[1] cheese traditionally made from raw cow's milk. The cow breeds best for producing the milk needed for this cheese are the Abondance, Tarentaise and the Montbéliarde. This cheese measures 14 cm (5.5 in) across and 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) thick, has a soft centre with a washed rind and weighs an average of 450 grams (16 oz).
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Fox, Patrick. Cheese: Chemistry, Physics and Microbiology. p. 200.
- ^ Janet Fletcher (2005-05-04). "French cheeses fall victim to import rules". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
[In] November [2004], the FDA issued a revised statement on soft cheeses from France, enlarging the category to include semi-soft and soft-ripened cheeses. (…) the French government agreed that cheeses defined as soft – a Reblochon, for example, by the new U.S. interpretation – would be considered unsuitable for sale if aged more than 60 days.
- ^ Aimee Blume. "Cheese of the Week: Delice du Jura". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved Mar 19, 2016.
External links
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- Reblochon AOC (in French)
- Official Reblochon website (in French)
- Prodottitipici.com Reblochon – Piemonte – Formaggi e Latte – Vaccini (in Italian)
- Quaderni della Regione Piemonte: Caratterizzazione della produzione tradizionale regionale dei prodotti lattiero-caseari: Toma del lait brusc, Murianengo, Formaggio crosta rossa, Cevrin di Coazze (Seconda Parte) (in Italian)