Abondance is a semi-hard, fragrant, raw-milk cheese

Cheese

Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....

 made in the Haute-Savoie

Haute-Savoie

Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...

 department of France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

. Its name comes from a small commune also called Abondance

Abondance, Haute-Savoie

Abondance is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies in the French Alps just south of Lake Geneva on the Swiss border. The people of this commune are referred to as Abondanciers....

. A round of Abondance weighs approximately 10 kg and its aroma is similar to that of Beaufort

Beaufort (cheese)

Beaufort is a hard, rather sharp cheese made from cow's milk and is similar to gruyère. It is produced in the area around Beaufort located high in the French Alps in the Savoie region of France...

, also from France. Abondance is made exclusively from milk produced by the Abondance

Abondance (cattle)

The Abondance is a mixed race breed of cattle which originated in the high valleys of Haute-Savoie, France.-Description:They are medium-sized, with the female weighing in at between 580 and 680 kilograms and standing 1.30 metres tall...

 breed of cattle. In 1998, 873 tonnes were produced (+16.4% since 1996), 34% from local farms.

The name "Abondance" actually refers to two different cheeses granted an Appellation d'origine contrôlée

Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée

Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...

 or AOC:

• Abondance, Savoie, AOC 1990
• Abondance de Savoie, Savoie, AOC 1990

Abondance — AOC 1990

Since the 14th century, the Abondance region has been well known for its cheese produced by monks from the Sainte Marie d'Abondance Monastery, located near the Swiss border.

Abondance cheese can be either artisanal

Artisan cheese

Artisan cheese is manufactured by hand using the traditional craftsmanship of skilled cheesemakers. As a result the cheeses are often more complex in taste and variety. Many are aged and ripened to achieve certain aesthetics...

 or farm-made; it is now made exclusively in the area of Abondance

Abondance, Haute-Savoie

Abondance is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies in the French Alps just south of Lake Geneva on the Swiss border. The people of this commune are referred to as Abondanciers....

 in Chablais, Haute-Savoie

Haute-Savoie

Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...

.

The aging period for Abondance is only 90 days; it is best enjoyed from July through November.

Abondance de Savoie — AOC 1990

This cheese has been made by the Fruitières du Massif du Parmelan since 1896.

The aging period for Abondance de Savoie is only 12 weeks; it is best enjoyed from July through December.

External links

• http://www.tastecheese.com/images/cheese/cow/abondancelg.jpg