Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur: Herbs and Hills

Banon AOP

- Type: Soft goat cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves - Milk: Raw goat's milk 🌿 - Aging: Minimum 2 weeks - Pronunciation: /ba.nɔ̃/ (bah-NOHN) - Characteristics: Chestnut leaf wrapper, seasonal

Seasonal Tradition: Produced March to November when goats naturally lactate. The chestnut leaves, dipped in eau-de-vie, aren't just decorative—they impart flavor and create perfect aging conditions. Gathering leaves is often a community activity welcoming all participants.

Modern Revival: Nearly extinct in the 1970s, Banon was saved by a cooperative including many neo-rural settlers. Today's producers include former teachers, engineers, and artists who bring fresh perspectives while respecting AOP requirements.

Picodon AOP

- Type: Small goat cheese - Milk: Raw goat's milk 🌿 - Aging: Minimum 12 days - Pronunciation: /pi.kɔ.dɔ̃/ (pee-koh-DOHN) - Characteristics: Spicy name, varied textures

Diverse Expressions: The AOP covers a large area, resulting in variations: - Picodon de l'Ardèche: Drier, more mineral - Picodon de la Drôme: Creamier, milder - Picodon affiné méthode Dieulefit: Washed and aged longer

Cultural Bridge: Lebanese-French producer Najwa Khoury creates Picodon using traditional methods while experimenting with za'atar-rubbed versions for Middle Eastern groceries, building cultural connections through cheese.

Brousse du Rove

- Type: Fresh cheese - Milk: Goat's milk from Rove breed 🌿 - Aging: None (consumed fresh) - Pronunciation: /bʁus dy ʁɔv/ (brooss dew ROHV) - Characteristics: Light, fluffy, slightly sweet

Breed Preservation: Made exclusively from milk of Rove goats, a hardy breed with distinctive lyre-shaped horns. These goats, nearly extinct in the 1970s, were saved through efforts led by women farmers who valued their browsing ability and milk quality.

Urban Connections: Producers near Marseille sell directly to diverse urban populations who appreciate this digestible fresh cheese. Food trucks specializing in Brousse desserts bring traditional cheese to contemporary settings.