Carré de l'Est is a square gourmet cheese (as its name suggests). It has an orange-red, washed rind, sometimes covered with a white mould. This rind is moist and sticks to the fingers and feels elastic. The paste is very soft and unpressed. Made in Lorraine, it is produced from cow's milk only. It is eaten year round and keeps 3 to 4 weeks.
The cheese ripens in cellars. Each cheese is turned and washed by hand to spread the colorful bacteria over the cheese. Carré de l'Est has a smoky-bacon flavor and the taste has a hint of mushrooms. With regular holes in its centre, this gourmet cheese is best when the rind has a covering of mould. Affinage takes three to four months.