The Crayeux du Roncq or Crayeux du Vinage is a raw cow’s milk cheese, with a soft pate and a washed rind. Cube-shaped, it is 4,5 cm high, weighs about 300 gr and contains 27% of fat for its total weight. Its center has a chalky texture.

History

That cheese is a creation of Marie-Thérèse Couvreur, who lives in a farm near Roncq (30km from Lille). She wanted to make a kind of Maroilles, but more tasty. So, she converted her cowshed to a dairy and tried to realise her dream. After years of work, she managed to do it and the Crayeux du Roncq appeared.

Production

2 months of maturation.

Rind washed with beer and salted water.

Choice and tasting

Eyes: orange sticky rind.

Palate: strong flavour, with a sweet aftertaste.

Taste it with a beer from the Nord (northern France) or a full-bodied red wine.