Basque Country / Béarn · France
Ossau-Iraty.
Ossau-Iraty is a pastoral revelation—creamy and buttery on the palate with the subtle minerality of lanolin, followed by waves of toasted hazelnuts and sweet hay that linger like an alpine meadow at sunset. Its semi-hard texture yields to the tongue with a gentle resistance, releasing gentle notes of mild spice and roasted grain. The sheep milk sings throughout, honest and pure, with no sharp edges—just honest mountain character.
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The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Ossau-Iraty is one of France's oldest cheeses, with production documented in the Pyrenean valleys since at least the Middle Ages. 'Ossau' refers to the Ossau valley in Béarn; 'Iraty' to the beech forest plateau of Iraty in the Basque Country where flocks graze.
Shepherds traditionally carried the wheels in their transhumance, aging them in stone mountain huts. The AOC designation in 1980 defined the two geographic zones, the approved breeds (Manech tête rousse, Manech tête noire, Basco-Béarnaise), and the minimum aging requirements. It consistently earns top honors at international cheese competitions.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Sheep · raw
- Family
- Semi-hard
- Rind
- natural
- Age
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
Caseo's flavour axes are calibrated against reference cheeses. This is Ossau-Iraty's fingerprint.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100g serving — about a finger-thick wedge. Daily values use the FDA 2020 reference of 2,000 kcal. Expect ±5% variation between wheels.
Estimated values — based on similar cheese family data
Pairings · Caseo curated
What goes with Ossau-Iraty.
42 pairings across 6 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
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