Etorki is one of the great Basque cheeses. It is a truly a treat if you've ever had the opportunity to taste true Brebis, which is raw sheep's milk cheese from the Basque region on France, near the Western Pyrenees mountains. These great cheeses are made in the traditional method from late December to mid-July from unpasteurized ewe's milk over many small farms throughout the region. The sheep's milk is pulp pressed, not cooked, and then matured for 7 weeks. One of the prominent features of this cheese is the texture, which gives an almost taffy-like feel to the tongue.
All Pyrenees cheese are tremendous with apples and pears, and Etorki is a great picnic or lunch cheese when served with cornichons and peppers, spicy olives, raw vegetables, cured meats and salamis. In cooking, Etorki can be used in recipes calling for Gouda or Cheddar for a sheep's milk substitution.