Tête de Moine Fromage de Bellelay

Tête de Moine, which translates to 'Monk's Head', is a storied Swiss cheese with origins dating back over 800 years. It was first created by monks at the Bellelay Abbey in the Jura mountains as far back as 1192. Traditionally, this cheese is not cut but shaved into delicate rosettes using a specialized circular blade called a 'Girolle', which enhances its complex, aromatic flavor profile.

The cheese holds a protected designation of origin (AOP), ensuring that it is produced exclusively in the mountain dairies of the districts of Franches-Montagnes, Porrentruy, Moutier, and Courtelary in the Swiss Jura. The brand and its production standards are strictly managed by the Interprofession Tête de Moine, a trade association that represents the farmers, cheesemakers, and ripeners of the region. As a protected geographical product, there is no single multi-national corporate owner; rather, it is produced by a cooperative community of certified dairies that adhere to ancient artisanal methods.