We're here to help
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The best way to keep cheese fresh when travelling is to use a cooler or insulated bag with ice packs. If possible, avoid leaving the cheese at room temperature for extended periods.
The St-Albert Cheese Manufacturing co-op was founded in 1894.
Fresh cheese can be kept at room temperature for 24 hours before it needs to be refrigerated.
No, there are no hormones or antibiotics present in the milk used to make St-Albert cheeses. Additionally, tests are conducted upon receiving the milk to ensure it is free of antibiotics. If any trace of antibiotics is detected, the milk is rejected and not used in our products.
The white substance on the outside of your cheddar is likely tyrosine crystals, an amino acid that naturally forms during the aging process of the cheese. These crystals are edible and add a crunchy texture to the cheese, indicating its maturation.
The ingredients in our cheddar are pasteurized or heat-treated milk, bacterial cultures, rennet, salt, and sometimes natural colourant (annatto) for orange cheddar. Please check the specific product pages for more details.
At the factory, you can purchase the following orange cheeses:
Mild Cheddar
Medium Cheddar
Old Cheddar
Extra Old Cheddar
These cheeses are available in various sizes and formats. For more details, please visit our product pages.
The liquid on the outside of fresh cheese curds is simply whey, a natural byproduct of the cheese-making process.
It is recommended to consume cheese before the expiration date to ensure freshness and quality. However, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), cheddar can be eaten after this date if properly stored, although it may lose some flavour and texture. A visual and smell check is advised before consuming it after the indicated date.
The difference between fresh cheese curds and poutine curds mainly lies in their preparation and usage: Fresh cheese curds: Made fresh daily; they have a shorter shelf life. The pieces are larger, and the production is traditional. Poutine curds: Sold cold, they melt better, clump less, and the pieces are smaller. They are specifically designed for making poutine.
Yes, you can freeze cheese, but it may change the texture, making it crumblier or less creamy after thawing. Hard cheeses like cheddar freeze better than soft cheeses. It's best to use frozen cheese for cooking rather than for direct consumption.
The best way to store cheese is to keep it in the refrigerator, wrapped in wax paper or parchment paper, and then placed in an airtight container or plastic bag to prevent it from drying out. This allows the cheese to breathe while protecting it from excessive moisture. Fresh cheeses should be consumed quickly after opening.
Fresh cheese can be kept at room temperature for 24 hours, then it must be refrigerated. This information is on our packaging, in accordance with Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulations.
The powder is cellulose, a natural additive that prevents the clumping of cheese curds and shredded cheese.
We use annatto, a natural colourant extracted from the seeds of a tropical tree. It colours the cheese orange without changing the taste or texture. Without annatto, the cheese would be white, like milk.
Yes, our cheese is certified Halal by the Halal Certification Authority of Montréal (HMCA). This includes a range of our products, such as cheddar, cheese curds, marbled cheddar, mozzarella, and many others.
We primarily produce cheese, but our store offers a variety of dried meats and other locally produced meat products.
Yes, St-Albert cheese is gluten free.
Cheddar has very little lactose, as most of it is removed during the production process. Added cultures break down the lactose. If you are intolerant or allergic, consult your doctor before consuming.
The average Holstein cow produces around 33 litres of milk per day.
Cows typically eat a diet that includes grass, hay, silage (fermented corn or grass), and grains like corn, barley, or soybeans. Their diet may also be supplemented with vitamins and minerals to ensure they receive all the nutrients they need.
Our cheeses are not vegan. Some are vegetarian, but others contain animal rennet. Check the ingredients or contact us for more details.
Our cheeses contain salt, except for the slab cheese, which is salt-free and available exclusively at our St-Albert store.
Please visit the following link to initiate a refund request. Note that this option is eligible only if you have a business account with us and if you purchased the product directly from us (for refunds on purchases made through a distributor, please contact your point of sale).
The cows are typically in a mix of barns and pastures, depending on the season and farming practices. They may graze in pastures during the warmer months and stay in barns during the colder months or at night.
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.
The milk used in the production of St-Albert cheeses primarily comes from members of the cooperative dairy producers in Eastern Ontario.
For any issues or questions with your order, you can contact our customer service. You can reach us by phone at 613-987-2872 or 1-800-465-1553, or by email at info@fromagestalbert.com.
Yes, we offer guided tours for groups of more than 20 people through our specialized partners or for school outings. For more details, please visit our "Group Tours" page.
To organize a school group visit, please check our "Group Tours" page. You'll find all the necessary information to plan and book your visit.
We are open 361 days a year, except for Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, and the 2nd of January. Normally, our hours don't change! If they do, we update our Google profile to keep you informed.
For any issues with your order, you can contact our customer service. You can reach us by phone at 613-987-2872 or 1-800-465-1553, or by email at info@fromagestalbert.com.
Unfortunately, we no longer offer a buffet for breakfast on weekends.
Yes, the viewing gallery is open to visitors. The hours are the same as the store, from 9 AM to 6 PM every day. There is no fee to visit the viewing gallery.
To purchase tickets for events organized by St-Albert, all the information will be posted on our website and social media channels.
Yes, the viewing gallery is open to visitors. Opening hours are the same as those of the store, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. There is no charge to visit the gallery.
You can find Fromagerie St-Albert on the following social media platforms:
Instagram: fromageriestalbertcheese
Facebook: FromagerieStAlbert T
ikTok: stalbertcheese and fromagestalbert
YouTube: FromageStAlbert and stalbertcheese
Our store is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6p.m.
You can send your donation request by filling out the dedicated form on our website. Once submitted, your request will be reviewed, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
To open an account for your store or restaurant, please fill out the dedicated form on our website. You can access the form by following this link: Open an Account.
You must make your order prior to visiting the store, but in that case, yes you can expect your usual price.
No, we cannot accept milk directly from individuals or businesses. According to Canadian regulations, all milk used in dairy production must come from approved sources and undergo strict quality control before being used in our products. Milk must go through approved channels to ensure it meets health and safety standards.
The cheese factory organizes a variety of charity events every year and sponsors a large number of groups from the region.
St-Albert Cheese receives many requests for donations and sponsorships. To submit a request, please fill out the dedicated form. Each request will be evaluated individually based on our criteria and capacity to contribute.
You can get information about our company by visiting our website, checking the B2B resources section, or contacting us directly at info@fromagestalbert.com.
Our cheddars are aged from fresh daily to up to 10 years. Mild cheddar is aged 1-3 months, medium 3-6 months, old 6-12 months, extra-old 14-20 months, and our Distinction line from 2 to 10 years.
The cooperative counts approximately 50 member owners, all from a dairy farming background in and around the St-Albert region.
A cooperative, like the St-Albert Cheese co-op, is an organization owned and managed by its members. Each member has a voice in the decisions, which promotes fairness and collaboration.
The practice of colouring cheddar orange dates back to the 17th century in England. At the time, cows were primarily fed on grass rich in beta-carotene, a natural pigment found in plants, which naturally gave the cheese a yellow-orange hue. To even out the colour, especially when the milk was less rich, they began adding dye. Annatto, a natural colourant extracted from the seeds of the Achiote tree (Bixa Orellana), quickly became popular for this task. Today, annatto is still used to give cheddar its distinctive orange colour, but it does not alter the taste or quality of the cheese.
It takes about 10 litres of milk to produce 1 kg of fresh cheese.
The milk used for our cheeses varies depending on the type of cheese. For fresh and young cheeses, the milk is pasteurized. For aged cheeses, it is thermized, meaning it is heated to a high temperature but lower than pasteurization.
Rennet is an enzyme used to coagulate milk during cheese production. We primarily use plant-based rennet.
Between 5 and 7 milk trucks are delivered daily, for a total of about 120,000 to 140,000 litres of milk per day, or approximately 40 million litres of milk per year.
Marble cheese is made by combining two types of curds, often white cheddar and orange cheddar. The curds are mixed before being pressed and aged, creating the distinctive marbled effect.
For the hours of Fromagerie St. Albert, this way.
For the hours of Fromagerie Mirabel, this way.
We regularly update them.
We do not offer online shopping at this time, but our products can be ordered from some grocery stores through their online platforms if available.
No, visiting the gallery is free of charge.
Yes, our restaurant, store, and viewing gallery are wheelchair accessible. We have also dedicated accessible toilets and an elevator.
Yes, we offer free parking on site, with availability for large vehicles. Please contact us ahead of time if you have any doubts.
