The legend of Gruyerius begins in the 18th century in the Gruyère region. It was in 1617 that the first signs of Gruyerius appeared and the myth began…
…At a time when Gruyère trade was successful, competition in the market was tough. A multitude of Gruyère producers competed fiercely to sell their cheeses in order to earn a living and feed their families.
On the market, a quantity of Gruyère, more or less similar, different in size or colour for some and with a different taste for others, but which on the whole were similar. Then one day, this singular Gruyère cheese appeared with the inscriptions “GRUYERIUS” engraved on it. It was unlike any other Gruyère, its colour was beautifully golden and its taste was unique. Everyone who tasted it was charmed and wanted more. But only a small quantity of this famous Gruyère cheese was available on the market.
The man who had done it was unrecognisable. His face was hidden behind a thick beard and a large black hat. No one had seen him before. He was not very talkative and no one knew more about his identity or how he made this special Gruyère cheese. Curious, people wanted to investigate this strange character but when they tried to find him, he had already disappeared. For some time, the man with the famous Gruyère did not show up. And a few months later, the craftsman returned to town with his Gruyerius for a very short stay. As usual, the cheesemaker did not divulge anything, neither about himself nor about his cheese. And so the scenario repeated itself, his presence in town was only extraordinary and the mystery still remained.
IIntriguing, sometimes disturbing, the Gruyerius was the subject of many rumours.
As his appearances were rare, the most extravagant rumours about this man and his mysterious Gruyerius were heard and soon began to spread. Of this cheese people only knew its unique taste and its name. But where was it made? And by whom? Some said that it was the creation of an old man with inexplicable abilities, capable of bewitching his cheese to give it an extraordinary taste. Others thought it came from heaven, made by a higher power and brought to earth to demonstrate its greatness. Intriguing, sometimes disturbing, Gruyerius was the subject of many rumours. Because of its divine flavour, its rarity and its legend, it left no one indifferent. But what was the truth about this cheese and its maker?
These noises were certainly extravagant, but not entirely unrelated to reality. Gruyerius was not made by an old enchanter, but by a middle-aged man whose thick beard gave him that mysterious look. His abilities were inexplicable, but not for the reasons that people were inclined to believe. They were inexplicable because he was the only one who knew them, his know-how to produce and refine his Gruyère cheese was unique and unrivalled.
Its cheese was truly produced at altitude. However, it did not really come from heaven but from his alpine hut at the top of the Fribourg Prealps. One of the reasons people thought he came from heaven was that on the rare occasions they saw him bringing his Gruyerius into town, he came down from the mountains; the path, for some, that leads to heaven. The identity of the craftsman remains unknown. But people came to terms with it and called him, like his cheese, “Gruyerius”.
Over time, Gruyerius has become a symbol of rarity and exception. Nowadays, the legend persists. And Fromage Gruyère SA is the only one to be in possession of this unique know-how as well as the only one to have this famous alpine Gruyère. The Gruyerius is as rare as it always was and its taste is as exceptional as ever. Taste the legend.