What type of paste is the Fleurs des Monts sheep's milk cheese?

Fleurs des Monts is a firm, pressed sheep's milk cheese with a natural rind. It differs from Sein d'Hélène, which is a semi-firm cheese, through its denser texture and cleaner cut.

What's the difference between Fleurs des Monts and Sein d'Hélène?

Fleurs des Monts is made solely with sheep's milk, while Sein d'Hélène combines sheep's milk and cow's milk. This difference in recipe explains their distinct texture and flavour.

Which sheep's milk cheese is better, between the two?

There's no single best choice, it comes down to preference: Fleurs des Monts suits those who enjoy a firm paste and a bold sheep's milk flavour, while Sein d'Hélène appeals to those looking for a softer texture and a flavour mellowed by cow's milk. La Moutonnière also offers a sheep's milk cheese board.

Where can I buy firm sheep's milk cheese in Quebec?

Fromagerie La Moutonnière, in Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester in Centre-du-Québec, makes and sells its firm sheep's milk cheeses through its online shop, with delivery across Quebec or pickup at two locations.

Does sheep's milk cheese contain lactose?

Yes, sheep's milk cheese contains lactose, just like cow's milk cheese. It's a good compromise for some people who have trouble digesting cow's milk, but it isn't a lactose-free product or suitable for intolerances. La Moutonnière also offers sheep's milk yogurt.

All articles

Firm Sheep's Milk Cheese: Fleurs des Monts and Sein d'Hélène Explained

Published September 30, 2026

Firm sheep's milk cheese holds a special place in Quebec's cheese scene. In Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester, Fromagerie La Moutonnière offers two very distinct versions: Fleurs des Monts and…

Board with cheeses, fruit, charcuterie and accompaniments — A presentation example for comparing textures and arranging accompaniments.

Firm sheep's milk cheese holds a special place in Quebec's cheese scene. In Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester, Fromagerie La Moutonnière offers two very distinct versions: Fleurs des Monts, a firm, pure sheep's milk cheese, and Sein d'Hélène, a semi-firm cheese that blends sheep and cow's milk. Here's how to tell them apart.

Fleurs des Monts: the pure sheep's milk firm cheese from Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester

Fleurs des Monts is made from sheep's milk at the cheesemaker in Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester, in Centre-du-Québec. It's a firm, pressed cheese with a natural rind, designed to be sliced and served as is on a cheese board. Its dense texture and ochre-coloured paste make it a cheese that holds its shape well, whether cut with a knife or a raclette blade.

The name pays tribute to the landscape surrounding the cheesemaker and to the diet of the sheep that provide the milk. To find out the exact size and aging offered at the time of your purchase, the current product page remains the most reliable source, available in the online shop.

Sein d'Hélène: the semi-firm cheese that blends sheep and cow's milk

Unlike Fleurs des Monts, Sein d'Hélène isn't a pure sheep's milk cheese. It's made with a blend of sheep's milk and cow's milk, which gives it a softer, semi-firm paste with a smooth texture. It shouldn't be presented as an entirely sheep's milk cheese: this very blend is what defines its character.

Its shape recalls the mountains surrounding Sainte-Hélène, hence the name. On the palate, it stands out with a richer flavour than many classic cow's milk cheeses, while remaining softer and more melt-in-your-mouth than Fleurs des Monts.

How to tell the two apart on a cheese board

For a host putting together a cheese board, the difference between the two comes down to both look and taste:

Fleurs des Monts: firm paste, dark natural rind, cuts into clean slices, bolder flavour with a distinct sheep's milk character.
Sein d'Hélène: semi-firm paste, mountain-peak shape, softer texture, rich flavour mellowed by the cow's milk.

Placed side by side, they showcase two different ways of working sheep's milk: on its own, or blended. It's a great starting point for guests discovering sheep's milk cheese for the first time.

Why sheep's milk changes the taste of cheese

Sheep's milk is richer and more concentrated than cow's milk, which gives cheeses a denser texture and a flavour often perceived as more pronounced. That's what gives Fleurs des Monts its character, where sheep's milk takes centre stage on its own, and what gives Sein d'Hélène its richness, where it's blended with cow's milk to create a different profile.

It's not just a matter of taste: many people who have trouble digesting certain cow's milk products find that sheep's milk is a good compromise worth trying. It still contains lactose, so it isn't a "lactose-free" cheese or a solution for intolerances, simply a different option worth tasting.

Ordering or visiting in Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester

The cheesemaker has been transforming sheep's milk since 1992 in Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester and offers, in addition to Fleurs des Monts and Sein d'Hélène, about ten other sheep's milk cheeses, including fetas and a ricotta, as well as a sheep's milk yogurt, Royogourt. Products are available with delivery across Quebec and pickup at two locations.

To follow new releases, seasonal arrivals or learn more about the cheesemaker's methods, the journal regularly features content on cheese and life on the farm. The online shop remains the simplest place to check current availability for each cheese.

Frequently asked questions

What type of paste is the Fleurs des Monts sheep's milk cheese?: Fleurs des Monts is a firm, pressed sheep's milk cheese with a natural rind. It differs from Sein d'Hélène, which is a semi-firm cheese, through its denser texture and cleaner cut.
What's the difference between Fleurs des Monts and Sein d'Hélène?: Fleurs des Monts is made solely with sheep's milk, while Sein d'Hélène combines sheep's milk and cow's milk. This difference in recipe explains their distinct texture and flavour.
Which sheep's milk cheese is better, between the two?: There's no single best choice, it comes down to preference: Fleurs des Monts suits those who enjoy a firm paste and a bold sheep's milk flavour, while Sein d'Hélène appeals to those looking for a softer texture and a flavour mellowed by cow's milk. La Moutonnière also offers a sheep's milk cheese board.
Where can I buy firm sheep's milk cheese in Quebec?: Fromagerie La Moutonnière, in Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester in Centre-du-Québec, makes and sells its firm sheep's milk cheeses through its online shop, with delivery across Quebec or pickup at two locations.
Does sheep's milk cheese contain lactose?: Yes, sheep's milk cheese contains lactose, just like cow's milk cheese. It's a good compromise for some people who have trouble digesting cow's milk, but it isn't a lactose-free product or suitable for intolerances. La Moutonnière also offers sheep's milk yogurt.