Livarot is a French cheese of the Normandy region,[1] originating in the commune of Livarot, and protected by an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC)[2] since 1975.
It is a soft, pungent, washed rind cheese made from Normande cow's milk.
It is sold in cylindrical form with the orangish rind wrapped in three to five rings of dried reedmace (Typha latifolia).
Its orange colour comes from different sources depending on the manufacturer, but is often annatto.
Its period of optimal tasting is spread out from May to September after a refining from six to eight weeks, but it is also excellent from March to December.