Roquefort (French pronunciation: [ʁɔkfɔʁ] ; Languedocien: Ròcafòrt) is a sheep-milk blue cheese from southern France. Though, within differences between legal roqueforts, indistinguishable cheeses are produced elsewhere, EU law dictates that only those cheeses aged in the natural Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon (in the Occitania region) may bear the name "Roquefort", as it is a recognised geographical indication, and has a protected designation of origin.
Roquefort is white, tangy, creamy and slightly moist, with veins of blue mold. It has a characteristic fragrance and flavor with a taste of butyric acid; the blue veins provide a sharp tang. It has no rind; the exterior is edible and slightly salty. A typical wheel weighs between 2.5 and 3kg (5.5 to 6.6lbs), and is about 10 cm (4 in) thick. Each kilogram of finished cheese requires about 4.5 liters of milk to produce. In France, Roquefort is often called the "king of cheeses" (French: roi des fromages) or the "cheese of kings", although those names may apply to other cheeses.
