Dairy
Sainte-Maure de Touraine
Sainte-Maure de Touraine is a long, ash-dusted goat log from Touraine in the Loire Valley, pierced end-to-end by a thin rye-straw that helps drain the curd and identify authentic AOP pieces. The paste is dense yet yielding, white and lactic, with citrus acidity that softens into nutty, slightly woody depth as the ash-grey rind matures. Slice into rounds for boards, warm gently until the centre yields, or crumble into warm vegetable dishes. The straw, ash coat, and elongated cylinder distinguish it from shorter crottins and cubes; farmhouse raw-milk lots show more aromatic range than industrial plain chèvre logs.
Also known as: Sainte-Maure de Touraine
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History
Goat dairying in Touraine produced elongated ash-coated cheeses long associated with Sainte-Maure villages.
Sainte-Maure de Touraine received AOC protection including the characteristic rye-straw through the log.
EU PDO status confirmed geographic zone and traditional form for Sainte-Maure de Touraine.