| Salers | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France |
| Region, town | Auvergne, Salers |
| Source of milk | Cows |
| Pasteurised | No |
| Texture | Semi-hard |
| Aging time | 9 months |
| Certification | French AOC 1961 |
The Salers (French: Le Salers) is a French cheese from the volcanic region in the mountains of Auvergne, central France. It is a pressed, uncooked cheese made from Salers cow's milk between the 15 April and 15 November. It is similar to Cantal cheese - which is produced from the same cows' milk when they are fed on hay during the remaining months of the year - and has been estimated to have been fabricated in this region for at least 2000 years. It came to prominence when Maréchal de Senneterre served it at the table of Louis XIV of France. Maréchal de Senneterre is also responsible for the introduction of Saint-Nectaire and Cantal. Salers has benefited from the Appellation d'origine contrôlée since 1961.[1] It is best eaten between September and March, after an ageing time of nine months, but it is also excellent all year round.
It is circular in shape, weighing around 40 kg.
1,112 tonnes were produced in 1998 (+15.1% since 1996). All was made in local farms from unpasteurized milk by about one hundred producers.