Cheese story
What is Ossau-Iraty?
A Basque-Béarnaise sheep cheese with a smooth paste and nutty sweetness.
Origin
Basque Country / Béarn, France
Milk
sheep
Board role
Hard / mature
Cheese profile
Country
France
Region
Basque Country / Béarn
Milk type
sheep
Texture
firm
Rind
natural
Ageing
3 to 12 months
Vegetarian
Check the rennet / producer
Milk treatment
raw or pasteurised
Flavour profile: nutty, sweet, sheepy, grassy
Origin, protection and character
Ossau-Iraty comes from France, especially Basque Country / Béarn. Its character comes from the balance of milk, texture, rind, ageing and local serving traditions.
Protected status
PDO/AOP
Typical ageing
3 to 12 months
How to serve Ossau-Iraty
cheese boards, salads, tapas-style plates
Good food matches
black cherry jam
Jurançon
Serving tip
Take it out of the fridge before serving so the texture softens and the flavour opens up. Softer cheeses usually need less time than hard aged cheeses.
Buying tip
Look for clean aroma, good texture and a style that matches the board: fresh and bright, soft and creamy, hard and nutty, blue and salty, or bold and washed-rind.
