One of my all time favorite cheeses, the tiny wheel of La Tur packs a ton of rich, fresh and creamy flavor that is not to be missed!
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Quick Facts:
- Milk: Goat, Sheep, Cow
- Flavor: Creamy, milky, earthy
- Aroma: Mild to slightly barnyard-esque
- Family: Brie
- Pasteurized? Yes
- Vegetarian? No
- Texture: Soft-ripened, creamy with a liquid top layer when perfectly ripe; spreadable but slightly crumbly when young
- Rind: Mold
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Region of Origin: Piemonte
- Producer: Caseificio dell'Alta Langa
What kind of cheese is La Tur?
Although made in the brie-style, it is its own unique beast. When perfectly ripe, the interior is creamy, soft, and very spreadable. The outer rim of the interior cheese, directly under the rind, should be a near-liquid consistency that oozes out once you cut into it.
When slightly underripe, the cheese has more of a crumbly fresh chevre texture, but is still wonderfully delicious.
Do you eat the rind?
Yes! If there are any particularly hard pieces of the rind, either eat around those or cut them off and discard them. The entire rind is edible though and this is a cheese where I highly recommend eating the rind.
Is La Tur cheese pasturized?
Yes - it is pasteurized at a low temperature, which means that there is more of a chance for bacteria growth than some high temperature pasteurized cheeses. I'm a food blogger, not a doctor, so please consult with your physician before making any cheese-eating decisions that might affect your health.
What does Alta Langa La Tur Cheese taste like?
Rich and creamy, La Tur predictably has a full, milky flavor. Lots of milkfats mean the cheese coats your tongue and the flavor will linger after you've finished your bite. There's also a yeastiness with a small amount of "barn"-type flavor from the sheepsmilk. Goatsmilk adds a bit of brightness and balances it all out.
How to eat La Tur Cheese
La Tur is almost always sold in individual cupcake-sized wheels. To serve:
- Remove the wheel of cheese from the packaging, and remove both the paper wrapper from the bottom and the thin paper with the logo on it from the top.
- Place on a plate or cheese board with a small, thin knife like a paring knife or cheese knife
- Serve with fresh crusty bread and sliced fruit like dried figs, fresh kiwi, grapes, or strawberries
Where to buy La Tur Cheese?
- Whole Foods
- Kroger
- Costco (when you're lucky)
Suggested Wine Pairings:
In general, wines from the same region as the cheese you are pairing them with tend to be a great match. That's great news, since La Tur is from the Piedmont region, one of Italy's premiere wine making regions! I suggest the following:
- Barbaresco
- Barbera
- Moscato d'Asti
- Asti Spumante
Lisa says
Thank you for your wonderful description of La Tur. Exactly what I needed to know!
the bald beer guy says
the cheese is not pasteurized, it is thermalized