TJ's is really getting out there

I was checking out the new Trader Joe's here in Davis today and saw something that surprised me - Trader Joe's Epoisses. It's from France and I could smell it through the plastic wrap. $7.99 for a half-round, which is a hell of a price if the stuff is good.

Anyone else know anything about this?

I didn't even know what Epoisses was until your post. Now I have another reason to want a Trader Joe's nearer my home.

I wouldn't have known what it was either, until i saw it at the TJs here in Reno. Did you try it Mike? Wikipedia states that Brillat-Savarin referred to it as the king of all cheeses and M. Bonaparte was fond of it too..

Real Epoisses can't be imported to the USA because it is made from unpasteurized milk and US regulations require that any cheese made from unpasteurized milk must be aged for a longer period than Epoisses is ever aged.

The Epoisses that we get is mostly the inferior stuff from Berthoud made from pasteurized milk. Some of the genuine article does make it in. The French are the world experts at circumventing ridiculous red tape regulations. Some producers of genuine Epoisses are willing to fill out the import form that says their product is made from pasteurized milk, even when it isn't, once they realize it's just a stupid regulation.

Genuine Citeaux, from the monastery, is even better than Epoisses, IMO.

Neither is a cheese for the faint-hearted. They both stink to high heaven, but the flavor is divine.

-Paul W.

I had to give it a try. It was similar to the Berthoud but perhaps a bit less ripe than the ones I've had - not as soft and not as stinky.

Nothing special but a pretty nice piece of cheese for the price.