Top 35 Canadian Cheeses

Oka is a pale yellow Canadian cheese made from raw or pasteurized cow's milk. It has an intense aroma and a semi-firm consistency, while the flavors are creamy, fruity, and nutty. The cheese melts exceptionally well and comes in two main versions: regular, which is aged for 30 days, and classic, aged for 60 days. It is believed that Oka cheese was first produced by Trappist monks from the eponymous city near Montreal. Serve this Canadian classic with cashews, walnuts, pecans, apples, figs, or grapes.Expand

Le Douanier is a Canadian semi-soft cheese produced in Quebec by master cheese maker Fritz Kaiser since 2000. It's made from pasteurized cow's milk. The cheese has a washed and brushed rind, and it matures for about 9 weeks. Its texture is smooth and supple, filled with small eyes, and there is a layer of vegetable ash running through the middle. The aromas are earthy, milky, and rustic, while the flavors are creamy, mild, and reminiscent of green apples and nuts with aging. The line of ash in the middle symbolizes the Lacolle border crossing between Quebec and the US, and the name of the cheese means customs officer. Le Douanier has won the Grand Champion award at the Canadian Chese Grand Prix in 2004.Expand

Le Cendrillon is a Canadian cheese hailing from Quebec. The cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk. Underneath its ash-coated rind, the texture is smooth, soft, and creamy. It's shaped into triangular logs, and the flavors are semi-strong, sour, and acidic when mature. When young, the flavor is milder. Le Cendrillon (lit. Cinderella) has won the title of Best Cheese in the World at the World Cheese Awards in 2009. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of white Loire wine or amber ale.Expand

Belle Creme is a Canadian triple-cream Brie-style cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk and cream. The cheese is produced in the Québec region and has a bloomy rind. Underneath it, there is a creamy, smooth, and buttery texture with mushroomy and nutty aromas. The flavor of Belle Creme is rich and buttery with hints of salt. It is recommended to serve this cheese with apples and a glass of fruity beer on the side.Expand

Brise du Matin is a Canadian Brie-style cheese produced in the region of Québec. This cow's milk cheese has a bloomy white rind that hides its cream-colored body with a buttery, tender, and creamy texture. The aroma of Brise du Matin is fresh, while the flavors are nutty, buttery, and mushroomy. The flavors become more pronounced with further aging of the cheese. It is recommended to pair it with a glass of blonde ale, which nicely complements the creaminess of Brise du Matin. Interestingly, there is also a low-fat version of this cheese, known as Légère Brise du Matin.Expand

Allegretto is a Canadian cheese produced in La Sarre, Québec. The climate in the Abitibi region results in pastures which have a higher sugar content, and that is the reason for sweeter milk from the sheep. That milk is used to produce this firm cheese with a fresh and clean aroma. The sheep's milk is thermalized, and the cheese is pressed and aged for at least 120 days. Underneath its natural rind, Allegretto hides a creamy texture and nutty, slightly tangy, fruity, mellow, and sweet flavors. It is recommended to grate this cheese over pasta or use it in grilled cheese sandwiches prepared with sourdough bread.Expand

La Sauvagine is a soft Canadian triple-cream cheese hailing from Quebec. It's made from cow's milk and has a washed rind. The texture is creamy, supple, buttery, and runny, while the flavors are fresh and buttery, with hints of mushrooms. La Sauvagine is named after migratory birds such as geese, ducks, and teals that cover the Quebec sky in the fall. It's recommended to pair this cheese with a glass of IPA beer, and serve it with cumin bread.Expand

L'Étoile de St-Raymond is a Canadian brie-style triple cream cheese hailing from Quebec. The cheese is made from a combination of pasteurized cow's milk and cream. Underneath its bloomy, ash-coated rind, the texture is creamy, smooth, and buttery. The aroma is mushroomy, while the flavors are buttery, milky, and grassy. This soft cheese has won numerous awards and it was a Bloomy Rind Cheese category finalist at the 2014 Sélection Caseus.Expand

Le Reflet de Portneuf is a Canadian cheese hailing from Quebec. The cheese is made from a combination of pasteurized cow's milk and cream. Underneath its washed rind, the texture is soft, buttery, and creamy. The flavors are creamy, mushroomy, and buttery. It's recommened to pair it with a bottle of IPA or a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. This cheese has won many awards, including a silver medal at the World Cheese Awards in 2016.Expand

Castle Blue is a Canadian blue cheese hailing from British Columbia. This brie-style cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and it's left to ripen from 3 to 10 weeks. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is semi-soft, buttery, and creamy. The aromas are rich and earthy, while the flavors are creamy and piquant with sweet notes. The blue veins are running throughout the paste. It's recommended to pair Castle Blue with a glass of Syrah or Pinot Noir.Expand

Fromagerie de l’Île-aux-Grues is an artisanal cheese producer located on Île-aux-Grues, an island in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Québec, Canada, known for its strong connection between local landscape, milk, and cheesemaking. It was established in the late 1970s as an initiative by island farmers to collectively process milk from their own farms, while the production of refined, aged cheeses developed from the early 2000s onward. All milk used comes exclusively from the island, allowing full control over origin and expressing a distinct terroir shaped by the winds and vegetation of the St. Lawrence River. The dairy produces a diverse range of cheeses, from semi-hard to fully aged and aromatic styles, including Riopelle de l’Isle, Tomme de Grosse-Île, Canotier de l’Isle, and other well-known Canadian specialties. Today, Fromagerie de l’Île-aux-Grues stands as a strong example of successful local cooperation, where tradition, terroir, and modern expertise come together to create cheeses with a clear identity and sense of place.Expand

Fromagerie du Presbytère is an artisanal cheese producer located in Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, in the province of Québec, Canada, founded in 2005 in a restored former presbytery. It was established as a family project by the Morin family, who also operate their own dairy farm, ensuring full control over the quality and origin of the milk used in production. The creamery is known for its wide range of cheeses, spanning soft, blue, semi-hard, and long-aged styles, including well-known creations such as Louis d’Or, Bleu d’Élizabeth, Le Religieuse, Le Champayeur, and Treizième Apôtre. Production combines traditional cheesemaking techniques with modern expertise, with a strong focus on expressing local terroir and the character of the farm’s milk. Many of their cheeses have received national and international awards, contributing to the reputation of Fromagerie du Presbytère as one of Canada’s most respected artisanal cheesemakers. Today, the dairy stands as a model of how family heritage, innovation, and regional identity can come together to create cheeses with strong personality and consistent quality.Expand

Agropur is a leading dairy producer committed to quality, innovation, and sustainability. With a strong focus on excellence at every stage of production, Agropur offers a wide range of dairy products - from milk and cheese to yogurt, butter, and cream - designed for both everyday consumers and professional use. As a cooperative owned by dairy producers, Agropur upholds the values of collaboration, trust, and responsibility, ensuring full traceability and high standards throughout the entire production chain. Their approach blends traditional values with modern technologies to deliver consistent freshness, nutritional value, and outstanding taste. Innovation, respect for natural resources, and care for the community are at the heart of their mission, positioning Agropur as a reliable and socially responsible leader in the dairy industry.Expand

The Udder Way Artisan Cheese Co is a cheese producer located in Canada. They specialize in crafting small-batch, artisan cheeses with a focus on quality and traditional methods. The company aims to source local ingredients and emphasize sustainable practices in their production process. They offer a variety of cheese types including soft, semi-soft, and aged varieties. Expand

Cows Creamery is a cheese producer that specializes in artisanal cheeses, butter, and ice cream. Their products are made using milk from local farms, and they employ traditional methods in their production processes. The creamery is noted for its cheddar, which is aged for varying periods to develop distinct flavors and textures.Expand

La Maison Alexis de Portneuf, located in Saint-Raymond, Quebec, specializes in producing a variety of fine cheeses. The company crafts both traditional and specialty cheeses, incorporating methods that blend old-world techniques with modern innovation. Their products are distributed across Canada and are known for their distinct flavors and quality.Expand

Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac is a renowned artisanal cheesemaker located in the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Quebec. Founded in 1912, the monastery began producing cheese in the 1940s, blending European monastic traditions with Quebec terroir. They are especially famous for their award-winning blue cheeses, such as Bleu Bénédictin, celebrated for its creamy texture and balanced sharpness. All cheeses are handcrafted by monks and artisans using locally sourced milk, with a focus on quality and authenticity. Abbaye cheeses are widely appreciated by critics and chefs, regularly winning national and international awards for excellence. Expand

Fromagerie L’Ancêtre is a renowned Canadian producer of organic cheese and butter, located in Bécancour, Québec. Founded in 1992 by a group of dairy farmers, the company has been committed from the start to ecological and sustainable production – free from pesticides, artificial additives, antibiotics, or hormones. The milk comes from pasture-raised cows, which contributes to the quality, nutritional value, and rich flavor of their products, while also preserving the natural ecosystem. Their range includes a wide variety of cheeses – from mild and aged cheddars of different maturities, to Swiss-style (Emmental), smoked and marbled varieties, as well as cheeses with reduced salt content and lactose-free options. They also offer organic butters, with their award-winning aged cheddar series standing out for international recognition. Today, Fromagerie L’Ancêtre is synonymous with a blend of tradition and innovation, with nearly three decades of experience and numerous awards. Their motto, “Every bite is a better world,” reflects the belief that exceptional flavor and responsible production can go hand in hand, bringing consumers products that are healthy, authentic, and sustainable.Expand

Quality Cheese is a manufacturer, distributor and retailer of Italian specialty cheese and cheese snack products. Incorporated in 1988, the company produces a large selection of specialty cheese for the retail and food service sectors.Expand

La Moutonniere is a cheese producer based in Quebec, Canada, specializing in sheep milk cheeses. The company offers a variety of artisanal cheeses crafted using traditional methods. Some of their popular cheeses include La Moutonnière Feta and Le Bedon rond.Expand