The Laughing Cow Cheese: A Long-Standing Delicious History

The Laughing Cow is a brand of processed cheese products that has been around since 1921. The brand's most popular product is the spreadable cheese wedge, which comes in various flavours and is sold in different formats worldwide. The cheese is made from a blend of cream, milk, and fresh and aged cheeses, and it has gained popularity due to its versatility and long shelf life. The brand has an interesting history, with its logo and name originating from World War I illustrations and humour. Today, The Laughing Cow products are available in over 100 countries and are enjoyed by people of all ages.

The Laughing Cow was created in 1921

During the war, Rabier had drawn a laughing cow on the side of the troop's transport trucks, accompanied by the word "Wachkyrie". This was intended as a joke about the German supply trucks, which were decorated with Valkyries – female figures in Norse mythology who decide the fate of those who live or die in battle. After the war, Bel used a version of this cow to adorn his boxes of cheese and called the brand La Vache Qui Rit (The Laughing Cow). Bel trademarked the brand in France on April 16, 1921.

The Laughing Cow is a blend of cream, milk, and fresh and aged cheeses, particularly comté, which are pasteurized to stop the ripening process. This pasteurization process makes the cheese versatile and gives it a longer shelf life, allowing it to remain unrefrigerated for a limited period. The cheese is wrapped in individual serving-sized foiled wedges and packaged in a round, flat box. The iconic red thread that consumers pull to open the box and the red tab on the foil packaging were introduced in 1924.

The brand has since expanded its product line to include triangles, squares, or rectangles in various flavours, spreadable tubs and jars, dipping snacks, slicing blocks, cheese pods, and more. The Laughing Cow is now available in over 100 countries on five continents, making it one of the most successful cheese brands in history.

It's made from a blend of cream, milk, and fresh and aged cheeses

The Laughing Cow is a brand of processed cheese products that has been around since 1921. The name refers to the brand's most popular product, the spreadable wedge. The cheese is made from a blend of cream, milk, and fresh and aged cheeses, particularly comté, which are pasteurized to halt the ripening process. The pasteurization process gives the cheese versatility and increases its shelf life, allowing it to remain unrefrigerated for a limited time.

The unique blend of cream, milk, and fresh and aged cheeses gives The Laughing Cow its signature creamy texture and mild flavour. Comté cheese, which is a type of French cheese made in the Franche-Comté region, is a key ingredient in the blend. It provides a smooth and savoury taste to the final product. The combination of different types of cheese in the blend also contributes to the overall flavour and texture profile of The Laughing Cow cheese.

The process of pasteurization is crucial to the production of The Laughing Cow cheese. By heating the blend of cream, milk, and cheeses to a high temperature, any harmful bacteria are destroyed, and the ripening process is halted. This not only increases the shelf life of the product but also ensures that it can be safely consumed without refrigeration for a limited period. This made it an ideal snack for children and adults alike, as it could be easily transported and enjoyed on the go.

The Laughing Cow cheese is produced by Fromageries Bel, a family-owned company headquartered near Paris, France. The company has a long history of cheese-making expertise, dating back to 1865 when Jules Bel founded an artisanal cheese dairy in Orgelet, a town renowned for its milk and cheese quality. Over time, the company evolved and expanded, with Léon Bel, the founder's son, pioneering the creation of The Laughing Cow cheese brand.

The blend of cream, milk, and fresh and aged cheeses used in The Laughing Cow products sets it apart from other processed cheeses. The combination provides a unique flavour and texture that has gained a dedicated following worldwide. While the exact recipe may vary slightly depending on the region, the blend of high-quality cheeses and dairy ingredients remains consistent, ensuring that consumers around the globe can enjoy the distinctive taste of The Laughing Cow.

The cheese is pasteurised

Laughing Cow cheese is, therefore, a pasteurised cheese product. This process of pasteurisation involves heating the cheese to a high temperature for a short period of time, which kills harmful bacteria and extends the shelf life of the product. This process was first developed in the 19th century by French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur, and it has become a standard process in the dairy industry to ensure the safety and quality of milk and cheese products.

The specific details of the pasteurisation process for Laughing Cow cheese are not publicly available, but it likely involves heating the cheese to a temperature of around 70°C for a short period of time, typically around 15-30 seconds. This process would be carried out in a pasteuriser machine, which uses hot water or steam to heat the cheese.

The pasteurisation process is essential to the production of Laughing Cow cheese, as it ensures that the product is safe for consumption and extends its shelf life. This process also helps to give the cheese its characteristic creamy texture and flavour, which has contributed to its popularity.

As a result of this process, Laughing Cow cheese has a shelf life of several months and can be safely consumed by people of all ages, including babies from 6 months old. The pasteurisation process also means that the cheese can be enjoyed by those who are lactose intolerant, as the pasteurisation process breaks down the lactose in the milk, making it easier to digest.

It's available in triangles, squares, and rectangles

The Laughing Cow is a brand of processed cheese products that has been around since 1921. The name refers to the brand's most popular product, the spreadable wedge. The cheese is a blend of cream, milk, and fresh and aged cheeses, and it is pasteurized to stop the ripening process. This makes the cheese versatile and gives it a longer shelf life, allowing it to remain unrefrigerated for a limited period.

The iconic packaging of The Laughing Cow cheese is just as important as the cheese itself. The cheese comes wrapped in individual serving-sized foiled wedges, packaged in a round, flat box. The act of pulling the little red thread to open the box and then using the red tab to open the foil adds to the overall experience.

Now, let's talk about the available shapes: triangles, squares, and rectangles. These different shapes offer variety and convenience, ensuring that The Laughing Cow cheese fits perfectly on a variety of snacks and meals. The triangles, with their distinctive shiny foil wrapping, have become synonymous with the brand. Each triangle is a perfect pop-in-your-mouth portion, making it ideal for snacking and adding a creamy, cheesy touch to various dishes.

The squares and rectangles, though not as famous as the triangles, provide a larger canvas for consumers to get creative. They can be spread on crackers, bread, or bagels and topped with a variety of ingredients. For example, spreading a square of The Laughing Cow on a buttered crispy crumpet or using it as a base for smoked salmon on a bagel creates a delicious and indulgent snack. The versatility of these shapes allows consumers to get inventive and elevate their culinary creations.

The availability of The Laughing Cow cheese in triangles, squares, and rectangles not only caters to different tastes and preferences but also enables consumers to portion their cheese intake more easily. Whether it's a quick snack or a fancy appetizer, these shapes ensure that The Laughing Cow cheese is a convenient and enjoyable addition to any meal or occasion.

The logo was designed by Benjamin Rabier

The Laughing Cow (French: La vache qui rit) is a brand of processed cheese products that has been around since 1921. The cheese is a blend of cream, milk, and fresh and aged cheeses, particularly comté, which are pasteurized to halt the ripening process. The brand's most popular product is the spreadable wedge, which comes wrapped in individual serving-sized foiled wedges packaged in a round, flat box. The company was founded by Léon Bel, who trademarked the brand on April 16, 1921, in France. Bel had made the original drawing of the logo himself, inspired by a travelling meat wagon during World War I called "La Wachkyrie", a play on the word for Valkyrie.

In 1924, Rabier edited Bel's original drawing, creating the image that is widely recognized today. The Laughing Cow is now depicted as a red and white cow appearing jovial, and almost always wearing ear tags that resemble the round boxes the cheese comes in. Rabier's work extended beyond the Laughing Cow logo, and he is known for creating beloved characters such as Gideon the duck and Tintin Lutin, a precursor to Hergé's famous character, Tintin. Rabier's illustrations were known for their simple drawings and flat, supple colors, and he devoted his career to creating animal characters.

Rabier's contributions to the world of illustration and animation are significant, and his work has inspired many other artists. He passed away in Faverolles, Indre, in 1939, leaving behind a legacy that includes one of the most recognizable logos in the food industry.

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