OSSAU-IRATY PDO CHEESE UNION Cheese Dairy in Ostabat-Asme

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Useful information

  • Ossau Iraty

Location : In the countryside

Province : Labourd

Services

  • Bank cards accepted
  • Cash
  • Groups
  • Open all year round
  • Parking
  • English
    • PDO OSSAU-IRATY
      WELCOME TO SHEEP LAND

      The AOP Ossau-Iraty is the only cheese AOP in the South of the Garonne.

      It celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020. Its production area extends from Béarn to the Basque Country, and moreover takes its name from the Pic du Midi d'Ossau (in Béarn) and the Iraty forest (in the Pays Basque).

      Its manufacture is closely linked to the history of Béarn and the Basque Country. There are writings on sheep's cheese in this region since the 1st century! The tradition of sheep's cheese has thus been established over the centuries and today the AOP Ossau-Iraty is emblematic of a know-how rooted in this beautiful territory.

      Its production is guided by a key word: RESPECT!

      Respect for the terroir, people, know-how and, of course, respect for nature and animal well-being.

      AOP Ossau-Iraty is an uncooked pressed whole sheep's milk cheese.
      It can be raw milk or thermized milk. With a rather clear and homogeneous or speckled natural rind, a white paste with few or no openings, a supple and melting texture, even creamy, it has a light and balanced taste. After a long ripening, its aromas are affirmed and its texture is firm without excess.

      It is made with the milk of 3 local, traditional breeds of sheep.

      They are Basco Béarnaise, Manech Tete Rousse and Manech Tete Noire.

      Perfectly adapted to the soil, they are able to withstand humidity. They spend most of the year outdoors grazing pasture grass. Food supplemented by non-GMO cereals and oilseeds grown mainly in the geographical area of the PDO. To respect their natural cycle, the ewes are only milked for part of the year (between December and August at the most). Milking stops for a minimum of 100 days pending the arrival of the new lamb and the start of a new cycle. From June, most of the herds are taken to higher altitudes. This summer transhumance offers the sheep an incredibly rich flora. In the fall, many festivals are organized to celebrate the return of the sheep to the valleys.

      The AOP Ossau-Iraty represents a whole sector of men and women who are passionate about their profession.

      It has 1105 milk producers, 166 farm producers, 24 collection companies; processing and refining dairy and or farmer. In total, nearly 2,000 families live in Ossau-Iraty and contribute to the dynamism of the region.

      How do you recognize an Ossau Iraty AOP?

      The whole tomme will be presented with a gold and red band.
      And a hallmark allows you to distinguish farmers from dairymen.

      • Ewe's head from the front = PDO Ossau-Iraty farmer (exclusively made with raw milk)
      • Ewe's head in profile = AOP Ossau-Iraty cheese dairy (raw or heat-treated milk)
      • Ewe's head in profile = AOP Ossau-Iraty cheese dairy (raw or heat-treated milk)

      The manufacturing rules are strict and comply with specifications.

      Each year, an independent Certification Body visits operators in the sector to verify compliance with the specifications. The Syndicat Ossau-Iraty also carries out numerous control visits. In the event of non-compliance, and if the operator does not rectify its situation within a given period, it is excluded from the AOP Ossau-Iraty. Similarly, batches of cheese are taken each year from the producers and subjected to organoleptic and physico-chemical tests.

      In the event of lasting non-compliance, the operator may be excluded.

      You have understood: there are a lot of things to tell about the AOP Ossau-Iraty!

      Do you want to get as close as possible to the producers of Ossau-Iraty? Discover the Ossau-Iraty cheese route and its 129 stages. Guide 2023 with all the addresses and animations to download here. And available in the tourist offices of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the stages, and at the headquarters of the defense union of the AOP Ossau-Iraty.

      There are several types of steps; some offer specific activities.

      The farms where you will meet the producers who, depending on the season and their availability, may invite you to visit their farm, watch the milking, observe the work of the sheepdog, etc.

      The cheese dairies where the dairy Ossau-Iraty AOP is produced

      Ripening cellars where dairy and farm cheeses are ripened

      The mountain huts where you can meet the shepherds with their flock in the heart of the mountains (open between the end of May and the beginning of October)

      Farmers' shops that offer a variety of local products

      The interpretation center in Espelette and Etxola in Iraty where you will discover all the secrets of the appellation and pastoralism

      Syndicat Ossau-Iraty - Maison Apezetxea - 215 Latsagako bidea - 64120 OSTABAT-ASME

      Administrative office. The public is welcomed at the Interpretation Center in Espelette.

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Traveller Reviews OSSAU-IRATY PDO CHEESE UNION

4.7 sur 5 7 reviews

  • Valerie Saint-Laurent

    5 sur 5 Reviews posted by Valerie Saint-Laurent on 18/08/2020

    Little mistake. It is not a cheese factory as indicated but the defense office of the AOP Ossau-Iraty. However, they will be able to give you addresses of nearby farmers and dairies with a map of the cheese route as well as a leaflet Find out everything about Ossau-Iraty and its little recipes.

  • Sergey Borodin

    5 sur 5 Reviews posted by Sergey Borodin on 29/06/2019

    Cool farm and cheeses

  • Daisy Raoult

    5 sur 5 Reviews posted by Daisy Raoult on 26/04/2019

    😍😍😍

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OSSAU-IRATY PDO CHEESE UNION

Address

Bourg
64120 Ostabat-Asme

GPS coordinates

43° 15'13.38"N, 1° 4'32.32"W

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