Comté

Producer: Marcel Petite

Location: Franche Comte, France

Style: Hard

Milk Type: Cow

Milk Treatment: Raw

Tasting Notes: Nutty, Sweet, Savoury

Vegetarian: No

Comté is one of France’s great Alpine cheeses, made in the Franche-Comté region from raw cow’s milk.

Our Comté is matured by Marcel Petite at Fort Saint-Antoine, a former military fort in the Jura mountains where the cheeses are carefully aged and regularly tasted by specialist affineurs.

What does Comté taste like?

Nutty, sweet and savoury with a dense, smooth texture.

Depending on the wheel and season, you may find flavours ranging from toasted hazelnuts and butter to caramel, fruit and roasted onions.

Who would enjoy Comté?

Almost everyone.

If you like Gruyère, mature Cheddar or other savoury hard cheeses, Comté is an easy recommendation — but it also has enough complexity to keep serious cheese lovers interested.

How to serve Comté

It’s brilliant simply cut into pieces and eaten on its own, but also works beautifully with charcuterie, cornichons and good bread.

Try it with Chardonnay, Vin Jaune, a light red or a good beer.

Stephen’s Take

“Comté is one of those cheeses I could eat almost every day.

It looks quite straightforward, but a really good piece has layer after layer of flavour. It’s also probably one of the safest recommendations in the shop when someone says, ‘I just want a really good cheese everyone will like.’”

— Stephen, Founder of George & Joseph Cheesemongers