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Fermentation Atlas

Cheese from France, Thiérache

Maroilles PDOMaroilles

Cow milk is soured with mostly mesophilic cultures, set with calf rennet at 32–38 °C, cut into cubes and drained in square moulds for at least 16 hours without pressing. After salting the cheeses rest and grow yeasts for two days, then ripen in humid brick cellars for at least 35 days, brushed or washed with salt water until the rind turns red-orange. Made in 5 steps over 38 days. The longest step, ripen in humid brick cellars, brushed or washed, takes at least 35 days (INAO 2014) and runs at 9–16 °C (INAO 2014). Mesophilic lactic acid bacteria and Brevibacterium linens do most of the fermenting.

Key numbers
Main stepat least 35 daysSet[inao-mar]Ripen in humid brick cellars, brushed or washed
Temperature9–16 °CSet[inao-mar]Ripen in humid brick cellars, brushed or washed
AciditypH 5–6.9Measured[karamoko2024]Ripen in humid brick cellars, brushed or washed

Recipe

Amounts from a sourceThe specification fixes the rennet dose and the steps, not a full recipe. Colouring agents are banned.
Cow milk · Raw, thermised or pasteurised; skimming is allowed, but the protein may not be adjusted[inao-mar]
Lactic cultures · Mostly mesophilic; added within 72 h of the oldest milking[inao-mar]
18–30 mL per 100 L of milkCalf rennet · For rennet with 520 mg chymosin per litre[inao-mar]
Salt · Dry salt, dry salt then brine, or brine alone[inao-mar]
30 g salt per litreWashing brine · Brine used to wash the rind in one study, with red-smear cultures[karamoko2024]
Startermostly mesophilic lactic cultures; ripening flora may be added to the milk

Total time across the recorded steps: 38 days

Start
Drag the bar or press Play
32–38 °CpH 6.4–6.7shapes, not to countLactic acid bacteria

What changes: Cultures sour the milk a little, then calf rennet sets it

Step 1 of 5
Ripen the milk with cultures and add calf rennet
Time
Not documented
Temperature
32–38 °C
Set
Salt
None given
Acidity
pH 6.4–6.7
Set
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Lactic acid bacteria
Yeasts

Output: coagulum.

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
soft gel
Colour
white

Microbes at work in this step

mesophilic lactic bacteria sour the milk before it sets

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source

What makes this one different

Maroilles is square because its moulds were made from local hardwood that does not bend. Its curd is cut and drained without washing or pressing, given two days to grow yeasts, and then brushed or washed in humid brick cellars. Vieux-Lille is Maroilles washed in brine for months until it turns grey.

Milk
Cow milk only; raw, thermised or pasteurised
Ripening
At least 35 days from renneting (Maroilles); 28 days for Sorbais and Mignon, 21 for Quart
Size
PDO rules: 12.5–13 cm square moulds, at least 360 g of dry matter per cheese; at least 45 % fat in dry matter and 50 % dry matter

Related ferments

Variants

  • Sorbais12–12.5 cm square; at least 28 days.
  • Mignon11–11.5 cm square; at least 28 days.
  • Quart8–8.5 cm square; at least 21 days.

History and sources

Every number is labelled with how it is known. How this atlas is made

The specification says the monks of the abbey of Maroilles first made the cheese around 960, and from the 10th century the right to make it spread to nearby villages. It became an appellation by decree on 24 May 1976.

  1. [inao-mar] INAO, Cahier des charges de l'appellation d'origine « Maroilles » ou « Marolles », amended text of 24 June 2014 (national opposition version; the EU approved the amendments by Regulation (EU) 2016/1874)spec
  2. [karamoko2024] Karamoko G., Karoui R. 2024, Physicochemical, rheology, and mid-infrared spectroscopy techniques for the characterization of artisanal and industrial Maroilles cheeses, Foods 13:3086, doi:10.3390/foods13193086paper
  3. [eu-2016-1874] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1874 of 19 October 2016 approving non-minor amendments to the specification for Maroilles/Marolles (PDO), OJ L 288spec