Top 13 Quebecois Soft Cheeses

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

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

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

Grey Owl is a Canadian cheese produced by Fromagerie Le Detour in Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Quebec. The cheese is made from goat's milk and it's easily distinguishable by its natural, wrinkly, ashy rind. Underneath the rind, the texture is firm and dense, but it becomes soft and crumbly on the palate. As it ages, the texture softens, becoming silky smooth, especially near the rind. The aromas are fresh and goaty, while the flavors are sharp, tangy, and lemony. The name Grey Owl refers not only to the color of the rind, but it also honors one of Canada's first conservationist – Archie Belaney, a.k.a. Grey Owl. It's recommended to serve it with honeycomb and smoked salmon. Pair it with a dry Riesling or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.Expand

Le Double Joie is a Canadian brie-style cheese hailing from Quebec, where it's produced by La Maison Alexis de Portneuf Inc. The cheese is made from a mix of pasteurized cow's and goat's milk. Underneath its bloomy rind, the texture is creamy, buttery, and runny. The aromas are mushroomy, while the flavors are creamy and buttery. This soft cheese has won many awards, including a Gold Medal at the 2012 World Championship Cheese Contest.Expand

Cendré des Prés is a Canadian morbier-style cheese originating from Quebec, where it's produced by Fromagerie Domaine Féodal inc. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk. Underneath its bloomy rind, the texture is creamy, soft, and buttery, divided by a layer of maple wood ash. The flavors are creamy, fruity, mushroomy, acidic, and buttery, complemented by aromas of white grapefruit, wood, mushrooms, cream, and flowers. Cendré des Prés has won many awards, including a gold medal at the 2008 British Empire Cheese Show.Expand

Caronzola is a Canadian blue cheese originating from Quebec. This Italian-inspired cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and cream. Underneath its bloomy rind, the texture is creamy and soft, dotted with blue moulds. The aromas and flavors are mild and creamy. Caronzola is prized because it combines the creamy richness of brie and the tanginess of blue cheese. It's recommended to pair the cheese with ales and lagers in order to bring out the most flavor.Expand