Jean Faup Bethmales

Bethmale is undoubtedly the most typical cheese from the Eastern Pyrénées. Originating from the mountain of the "Pays de Couseran" in the Ariège close to the Spanish border, it derives its name from the Bethmale Valley where it was produced. Some even say that it was a favorite of Louis VI when he passed through the region in the 12th century.   This rustic cheese has earthy mushroom aromas with a farmyard resonance. The rind is washed, giving it a rosy glow and the paste is semi-hard with tiny pinholes. The taste is truly unique, with a zingy tingle on the tongue, yet mellow and nutty as an overall sensation. These cheeses were rarely seen outside their region but are now available in the US. The texture of Bethmale is semisoft, supple and yielding. The interior paste varies from ivory-white to buttery-yellow depending on the milk and the season, and is dotted with small holes and slits. Aromas are pleasantly pungent, smelling of damp cellar and earth. Flavors are mild, very rich, milky and buttery with notes of grass, wood and mushrooms. Bethmale made from cows’ milk is rich and creamy and Bethmale made from goats’ milk has a lovely floral flavor, with nutty additions to the taste.

The Dairyman’s Choice made with milk from animals fed exclusively with grass for the purest taste experience Aged three months on pine planks
Raw Cow's milk		Goat Milk
4kg/8.8lbs		3.7kg/8.15lbs

Le Montagne de Bethmale  Aged two months on pine planks
Raw Cow's milk	Mixes cow & Goat Milk	Goat Milk
4kg/8.8lbs	2.2kg/4.85lbs	3.7kg/8.15lbs

-> Bethmale Review by JANET FLETCHER / San Francisco Chronicles
Learn about milk collection and production
Tips: These cheeses express their personality when at room temperature and thinly sliced
Serving: Serve as a table cheese, in sandwiches or melted.
Cuisine: Bethmale goes well with meat and hearty breads, and is also good for grilling and melting.
Accompaniment: Rustic bread, Jam (fig, black cherry, bilberry).
Wine Pairing: Wine with body, fruitiness and well-defined tannins like wines of the pays d'Oc like Coteaux du Languedoc, Corbières AOC, Faugères, Minervois AOC, and Saint-Chinian AOCs
Production area "the Pays de Couseran" :