At this point, we are sure you are no longer surprised by the various cheese coatings you’ll often find in shop windows, but while some might expect this gray color to be mold, the Sainte Maure de Touraine is actually a chèvre cendré meaning that it is covered in ash!
Why ash, you ask? Well, ash helps to improve and enhance the flavor of certain cheeses because it neutralizes the acidity in curds. Acidity in cheese can inhibit ripening, preventing cheese from reaching its optimal flavor and texture! It had started as a natural bug repellent, but the ash also helps with the ripening of cheese as it creates a favorable environment for the forming of certain bacteria needed to make cheese. Also, it is impossible to deny that the ash greatly improves the appearance of the cheese, creating a striking contrast with the whiteness of the goat's cheese and subtly contouring the rind.
Not only is ash an interesting and unusual aspect to Sainte Maure de Touraine but the cheese also has a straw which is used to hold the cheese together in its roll shape. The straw is also an indicator of authenticity because it contains the AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) seal. This seal guarantees that the cheese is made with traditional methods, if the straw doesn't contain the seal, then it hasn't been made following the methods. So, look for that seal! It will also be evident in the name in of the Fromage, not to be confused with a very similar fromage, not made with the traditional practices will just be called Sainte Maure!
Your cheese cutting guide!
Each French cheese has its own specific cutting method to be sure that everyone gets an even slice! With the Sainte Maure de Touraine we are keeping things simple, by cutting across!
We love pairing a Sainte Maure de Touraine with a zesty, mineral white wine with citrus notes. Couple it with a crisp sauvignon blanc to get the most out of this cheese!
