La Moutonnière: The Story of Quebec's First Sheep's Milk Cheese Dairy
Published
La Moutonnière is the first dairy in Quebec to focus on processing sheep's milk, operating since 1992 in Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester. The company now makes about ten cheeses, a sheep's milk yogurt, and farm products…
La Moutonnière is the first dairy in Quebec to focus on processing sheep's milk, operating since 1992 in Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester. The company now makes about ten cheeses, a sheep's milk yogurt, and farm products, all available through its online shop and perfect for building a sheep's milk cheese board.
A first in Quebec, born in 1992 in Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester
The story of La Moutonnière begins in 1992, in this village in the Centre-du-Québec region. At a time when sheep's milk cheese was practically absent from Quebec shelves, the dairy bet on specializing in this raw material, one that was barely used locally at the time. It presents itself as the first dairy in Quebec to process sheep's milk, a choice that remains at the core of its identity more than thirty years later.
This positioning isn't just a matter of origin: it shapes the company's entire offering, designed around the particularities of sheep's milk rather than as a copy of what's done with cow's milk.
From sheep's milk to about ten cheeses
Over the decades, La Moutonnière has developed a range covering several cheese families: firm cheeses, soft cheeses, feta, and ricotta. The dairy offers sheep's milk cheeses made in Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester, and its catalogue includes feta varieties, a ricotta, and Royogourt, its sheep's milk yogurt.
This diversity allows for varied uses: some cheeses work well for cooking, others are best enjoyed on their own, and several naturally find their place on a sheep's milk cheese board, whether you're hosting guests or simply discovering sheep's milk cheese step by step.
Le Sein d'Hélène and blends: read the labels carefully
Not all of the dairy's cheeses are pure sheep's milk. Le Sein d'Hélène, for example, is made from a blend of sheep's milk and cow's milk. This is an important detail for anyone looking for an exclusively sheep's milk experience, or for anyone managing a sensitivity to cow's milk lactose: sheep's milk cheese also contains lactose, and a blend of the two milks shouldn't be presented as a purely sheep's milk product.
Before ordering, it's worth checking the composition of each cheese rather than relying solely on the name or the colour of the label.
More than cheese: wool socks and sheepskin
La Moutonnière doesn't stop at the cheese counter. Like many dairies built around a flock, it also values other products from the farm: knitted wool socks and sheepskins, often sought after for their warmth or as a decorative piece. These products tell part of the story that sometimes gets missed at the cheese counter: that of a farm where milk is just one of the things the sheep provide.
For anyone putting together a gift basket or planning a visit to the Centre-du-Québec region, this variety means you can leave with more than just cheese.
Order online or visit in the Centre-du-Québec region
La Moutonnière runs an online shop with delivery across Quebec and two pickup locations, making its cheeses accessible even if you're far from Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester. For cheese lovers looking to put together an assortment or prepare for a get-together, choosing between a few firm cheeses, a feta, and a ricotta makes it easy to build a sheep's milk cheese board without leaving home.
For those who prefer a more guided approach, browsing the online shop lets you see all the cheeses, yogurt, and farm products currently available. The dairy's journal also offers a broader look at the seasons, products, and life behind the counter.
FAQ
Is La Moutonnière really the first sheep's milk cheese dairy in Quebec?
The company presents itself as the first dairy in Quebec to have processed sheep's milk, a positioning it has carried since its beginnings in 1992 in Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester. This claim is specific to the company's own history and isn't an independent certification.
Are all of La Moutonnière's cheeses made exclusively with sheep's milk?
No. Some products, like Le Sein d'Hélène, are made from a blend of sheep's milk and cow's milk. It's best to check the description of each cheese before buying if you're looking for a product that's exclusively sheep's milk.
Is sheep's milk cheese suitable for people who are lactose intolerant?
Sheep's milk cheese contains lactose, just like cow's milk cheese does. La Moutonnière presents it as a good alternative for some people, but this shouldn't replace the advice of a healthcare professional in the case of a diagnosed intolerance.
How do you put together a sheep's milk cheese board using La Moutonnière's products?
A good starting point is to combine a firm cheese, a soft cheese, and a feta to vary the textures and flavour intensities. The online shop lets you see all the cheeses available so you can build this assortment according to your preferences.
Where can you buy La Moutonnière's products, including sheepskin?
The cheeses, sheep's milk yogurt, and farm products like sheepskin are available for delivery anywhere in Quebec or for pickup at one of the dairy's two locations. The online shop brings together all of these options to make ordering easier.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is La Moutonnière really the first sheep's milk cheese dairy in Quebec?
- According to La Moutonnière, the company presents itself as the first dairy in Quebec to have processed sheep's milk, a positioning it has carried since its beginnings in 1992 in Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester. This claim is specific to the company's own history and isn't an independent certification.
- Are all of La Moutonnière's cheeses made exclusively with sheep's milk?
- No. Some products, like Le Sein d'Hélène, are made from a blend of sheep's milk and cow's milk. It's best to check the description of each cheese before buying if you're looking for a product that's exclusively sheep's milk.
- Is sheep's milk cheese suitable for people who are lactose intolerant?
- Sheep's milk cheese contains lactose, just like cow's milk cheese does. La Moutonnière presents it as a good alternative for some people, but this shouldn't replace the advice of a healthcare professional in the case of a diagnosed intolerance.
- How do you put together a sheep's milk cheese board using La Moutonnière's products?
- A good starting point is to combine a firm cheese, a soft cheese, and a feta to vary the textures and flavour intensities. The online shop lets you see all the cheeses available so you can build this assortment according to your preferences.
- Where can you buy La Moutonnière's products, including sheepskin?
- As La Moutonnière explains, the cheeses, sheep's milk yogurt, and farm products like sheepskin are available for delivery anywhere in Quebec or for pickup at one of the dairy's two locations. The online shop brings together all of these options to make ordering easier.