https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/mar/26/french-monks-locked-down-tonnes-cheese-pray-buyers-online

[p] 
US edition[ ]

  * US edition
  * UK edition
  * Australian edition
  * International edition

The Guardian - Back to home
Search jobs
Sign inSearch
[ ]

  * News
  * Opinion
  * Sport
  * Culture
  * Lifestyle

ShowMoreShow More

  * [ ]News
      + US news
      + World news
      + Environment
      + Soccer
      + US politics
      + Business
      + Tech
      + Science
      + Newsletters
  * [ ]Opinion
      + The Guardian view
      + Columnists
      + Letters
      + Opinion videos
      + Cartoons
  * [ ]Sport
      + Soccer
      + NFL
      + Tennis
      + MLB
      + MLS
      + NBA
      + NHL
  * [ ]Culture
      + Film
      + Books
      + Music
      + Art & design
      + TV & radio
      + Stage
      + Classical
      + Games
  * [ ]Lifestyle
      + Fashion
      + Food
      + Recipes
      + Love & sex
      + Home & garden
      + Health & fitness
      + Family
      + Travel
      + Money
      + Make a contribution
      + Subscribe
  * 
      + Search jobs
      + Digital Archive
      + Guardian Puzzles app
      + The Guardian app
      + Video
      + Podcasts
      + Pictures
      + Inside the Guardian
      + Guardian Weekly
      + Crosswords
  * 
      + Search jobs
      + Digital Archive
      + Guardian Puzzles app

  * World
  * Europe
  * US
  * Americas
  * Asia
  * Australia
  * Middle East
  * Africa
  * Inequality
  * Global development

Cheese

French monks locked down with 2.8 tonnes of cheese pray for buyers

Raw-milk product normally sold only to restaurants or visitors to
Citeaux Abbey is marketed online

  * Coronavirus - latest updates
  * See all our coronavirus coverage

Abbaye de Citeaux cheese
[ ]
Abbaye de Citeaux cheese: the abbey has 4,000 too many. Photograph:
Image Professionals/Alamy
Abbaye de Citeaux cheese: the abbey has 4,000 too many. Photograph:
Image Professionals/Alamy

Agence France-Presse in Dijon

Fri 26 Mar 2021 11.52 EDT[ ]

Last modified on Fri 26 Mar 2021 17.04 EDT

  *  
  *  
  *  

A French monastery in the heart of Burgundy has launched an emergency
online sale to get rid of thousands of its artisanal cheeses, which
are languishing in its cellars as Covid-19 keeps buyers away.

The Citeaux Abbey, just south of Dijon, birthplace of the Cistercian
Catholic order, usually sells its raw-milk, semi-soft discs only to
restaurants or visitors to its on-site shop. But a drop in demand
since the coronavirus crisis erupted last year has left the abbey's
19 Trappist monks with 4,000 cheeses too many, a 2.8-tonne problem.

"We tried explaining to our 75 cows that they needed to produce less
milk but they don't seem to have understood," said brother
Jean-Claude, in charge of marketing at the monastery, which was
founded in 1098.

"Our sales are down nearly 50%," he said, with French restaurants
still closed since 30 October as authorities try to stifle a third
wave of cases. "We need to clear out our stock."

A Cistercian monk and the library of Citeaux Abbey
A Cistercian monk and the library of Citeaux Abbey, about 19 miles
south of Dijon, south-eastern France. Photograph: AFP/Getty

The monks' cheese won the silver medal at last year's international
food and drink competition in Lyon, a bastion of France's culinary
heritage.

The monks have teamed with the internet startup Divine Box, which
sells products made by abbeys in France and elsewhere, with a goal of
selling at least a tonne of cheese by Tuesday. The minimum order is
two wheels at 23 euros (PS20) each, plus shipping.

According to the site, 700kg has already been ordered. "We're going
to make it," Jean-Claude said.

Topics

  * Cheese

  * Europe
  * France
  * Food
  * Coronavirus
  * news

  *  
  *  
  *  
  *  
  *  
  *  
  *  

Reuse this content

  * World
  * Europe
  * US
  * Americas
  * Asia
  * Australia
  * Middle East
  * Africa
  * Inequality
  * Global development

  * News
  * Opinion
  * Sport
  * Culture
  * Lifestyle

  * About us
  * Contact us
  * Complaints & corrections
  * SecureDrop
  * Work for us
  * Privacy policy
  * Cookie policy
  * Terms & conditions
  * Help

  * All topics
  * All writers
  * Digital newspaper archive
  * Facebook
  * YouTube
  * Instagram
  * LinkedIn
  * Twitter
  * Newsletters

  * Advertise with us
  * Guardian Labs
  * Search jobs

Back to top
(c) 2021 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All
rights reserved. (modern)