The name of this hard cheese refers to the valley of Ossau, in Béarn, and the forests of Iraty, in the Basque Country, and encompasses a number of wonderful cheeses made using the milk of the Manech ewes that graze in this breathtakingly beautiful region.
FLAVOUR: Ossau-Iraty has a sharp and somewhat nutty taste, and the rind is quite firm, especially after a long maturation.
HOW TO SAVOUR: Eat in traditional fashion with itxassou, a local black cherry jam, which counterbalances its sharpness. It is also featured in numerous local dishes.