Produced in the south west of France close to the Basque district. This cheese has a lineage making it one of the oldest cheese ever made. Ossau Iraty has been recognized as an appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) product since 1980. It is one of three sheep’s milk cheeses granted AOC status in France (the others are Roquefort and Brocciu). The cheese can have a dry rind or a lightly waxed exterior, depending on the producer. The texture is smooth and creamy sometimes showing small eyes ( holes ) due to early fermentation. The colour is white but can deepen with maturity.