First Prize at the 2011 South African National Dairy Championships.
La Beryl is South Africa’s first washed rind cheese, made in a style similar to Pont-l’Évêque. The original Normandy recipe dates back to the 12th century. La Beryl gets its characteristic orange colour and during the ripening process, it develops a unique and rather pungent aroma and flavour.
“It was one of my late mother’s favourite European cheese styles and I have therefore named it after her.” Charles Back
The flavour of La Beryl is often described, somewhat evasively, as indescribable. It is strong but not offensive, rich but not sharp, tangy but not bitter. Its aroma is quite vegetal and savoury, though some have described it as smelling of feet! This one’s for real cheese fans.
Ingredients:
Pasteurised Jersey cows; milk, selected lactic cultures, selected maturation cultures, non animal rennet and salt.
General info:
Shelf life: 5 weeks from date of packing
Size and shape: 160g square
Certified Kosher
Certified Halaal
Suitable for vegetarians
Wine suggestions:
Fairview Viognier or La Beryl Blanc
Nutritional information per 100g:
Energy 1254J
Protein 16.9g
Carbohydrates 1.8g
Total fat 24.7g
Dietary Fibre 0.0g
Sodium 844mg
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Mary Allen says:
In December 1977 my late husband and I were staying in Franschoek, and toured around the Cape. The Wine Route was being developed and we enjoyed the tasting and the opportunities to buy wine. We visited Fairview and fell in love with all of it. We met Cyril and Beryl who made us so welcome. I was just recently looking at our photos of those days. It was such a happy time. A few years later we had another chance to visit and loved the goats that were being introduced.
So now I love to taste the cheeses, especially the camembert! Today I found a La Beryl cheese at Checkers and it brought all those happy memories flooding back.
My best wishes to all at Fairview, especially Charles 11. Your mother was so proud back then telling us that one of their sons was studying to follow (and overtake!) in his father’s footsteps.