Toasted hazelnut and browned butter: mellow sheep's milk from the French Pyrenees.
Ossau-Iraty from the Pyrenees on the French side of the Basque Country, aged six months and protected under AOP since 1980. Made from raw sheep's milk (Manech and Basco-Béarnaise breeds), pressed and uncooked, with a natural rind that ages up dusty and firm.
At six months, the paste is dense and ivory, breaking into clean flakes rather than slicing smooth. Flavor is where this cheese earns its reputation: toasted hazelnut, browned butter, and that unmistakable sweet sheep's milk pull, with a soft grassy note underneath from the mountain pastures. It's not a stinky cheese, not a sharp cheese, just deeply savory and a little sweet on the finish.
A great entry point for people who think they don't like sheep's milk, and a benchmark for people who already do. One of the oldest cheese recipes in Europe, and still one of the most quietly beautiful ones on the counter.
Real reviews from The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills Google Business Profile. Curated by Dom and his team since 1967.
Domenico and his team are fantastic. I’m a chef and I often get my supplies from The Cheese Store — unique products, carefully selected, from top Italian and French cheeses to excellent local ones.
Absolutely loved the cheese store! Everyone was super helpful and friendly. Lena helped us — she was very knowledgeable on all the cheeses: where they came from, what the region is like, what they are known for. It was like wine tasting for cheese.
Ordered several cheeses from them and the wrong items were delivered. Contacted the store and they recognized the error and immediately sent the correct order the next day without any fuss. Really appreciate the promptness and professionalism.
Hand-cut to order the day it ships.
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