Occitanie · France
Pélardon.
Pélardon is a delicate, cloud-soft goat cheese that dissolves on the tongue with bright tangy notes and a whisper of herbaceous warmth—like tasting the wild thyme and rosemary of the Cévennes highlands distilled into milk. Its natural rind cradles a creamy interior with subtle nuttiness and a faint minerality that speaks to the rocky limestone terroir where these goats graze.
Origin
43.6°N · 2.3°E
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Pélardon is the southernmost AOC goat cheese in France, produced in the Cévennes highlands of Languedoc. It has been made since at least the medieval period, as evidenced by records from monasteries in the region.
AOC was granted in 2000. Its name is thought to derive from the Occitan word for spicy.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Goat · raw
- Family
- Soft-bloomy
- Rind
- natural
- Age
- 1–3 mo
- Protected
- AOP · since 2001
- Intensity
- 2 / 5
- Texture
- soft
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Pélardon's flavour and aroma notes, scaled by the cheese's overall intensity — a quick guide, not a lab measurement.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100 g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100 g serving — about a finger-thick wedge. Daily values use the FDA 2020 reference of 2,000 kcal. Expect ±5% variation between wheels.
Serve, cut & store
Out of the fridge,
into its prime.
Guidance for soft-bloomy cheeses — general practice, not a per-wheel measurement.
Rest
Take it out about 1.5–2 h before serving — cold stiffens the fat and locks up the aromas; cool room temperature is when the flavour shows up.
Cut
Cut like a cake — slim wedges from the centre, through the rind. Don't scoop the middle and strand the shell.
Store
Wrap leftovers in cheese paper or wax paper — never cling film, which suffocates the rind — and keep them in the warmest part of the fridge.
Rule of thumb: the softer and riper, the longer it needs. Thick pieces need longer than thin — and don't leave cheese out much past two hours.
Pairings · Caseo curated
What goes with Pélardon.
48 pairings across 6 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Pélardon are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Pélardon at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
Take it with you
Want to remember this one?.
Log it, pair it, and keep your own tasting notes — Caseo is free.
