Le 1608

A delicious melt-in-your-mouth cheese with a fascinating link to Canadian history.

You'll find 1608 wonderfully nutty with a soft tang and long persistent finish. It's a favourite among TOMME staff and customers alike.

The milk for this raw cheese comes from Canadienne cattle, a breed for which the lineage of every cow can be traced back to the year 1608 and the first settlers from France. Cows are not native to North American and many of the imported cattle perished in those first harsh winters. Those that survived were bred with heartier northern European breeds to create the first unique breed in North America: the Canadienne.

Once numbering more than 500,000, there are now only 500 or so Canadienne cattle left in the continent, mainly in the Charlevoix region where this cheese is made. The milk from these cows is extremely high in both protein and fat, making it excellent for producing cheese. 1608 is perhaps the perfect example.

Sold in ~200 g or 300 g wedges. (Note: product photos are not intended to depict any particular size wedge.)