Vache Qui Rit Cheese

Vache Qui Rit Cheese
© Denzil Green

Vache Qui Rit Cheese is a processed cheese -- from France, of all places.

It is soft, white processed cheese with a sweet, mild taste and butter-like texture made year round from cow's milk.

It is popular owing to the individually-wrapped snack sizes it comes in. It is sold in round cardboard box containing eight individually foil wrapped wedges of the cheese. The individually wrapped portions make it convenient for a snacking cheese. There is a plastic red thread around the box. You pull the thread off to open it.

In America, the cheese is made in southern Kentucky. The main factory in France is in Lons-le-Saunier, in the Jura region. The French factory usually supplies only Europe, but in times of greater North American demand, it also kicks in to top up supply.

Nutrition for Vache Qui Rit Cheese

light version is 9% fat

History Notes for Vache Qui Rit Cheese

La Vache Qui Rit Cheese was invented in 1921. The phrase and graphic design was trademarked in 1921 by a Léon Bel. The design was retouched in 1923, and has been subtly modified over the years. For instance, in the 1970s, the cow's horns got a bit less pointed.

The cheese used to be marketed in North America to an adult audience but now it is primarily marketed to children.

Sales skyrocketed in the US when a light version was launched, and then it was further buoyed by the popularity of the "South Beach Diet" (advocated by a cardiologist in Miami, Arthur Agatston), for which it was suggested as a good food item. Sales went up 250% in 2003 to 2004.

Language Notes about Vache Qui Rit Cheese

The name "Vache Qui Rit" means "laughing cow."

The name came about as an allusion to the German word "Walkyrie" (or "Valkyrie", as we'd be more inclined to spell it in English.) In German opera and mythology, the Valkyrie were warrior maidens who served the gods and who wore helmets with horns on them, at least in popular caricature. During World War One, some French trucks had pictures painted on them of Valkyrie portrayed as hysterically laughing cows, which they called "La Wachkyrie" (pronounced vache qui rit.)

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Also called:

Vache Qui Rit (French)

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