Livarot is one of the oldest cheeses in Normandie. The cheese is circled by five bands of rush leaves that prevent the cheese from collapsing during maturing. These five bands are reminiscent of the five stripes, a colonel wears on his uniform, for this reason the cheese is known as the Colonel. Today, these bands are more for show than necessity in production. In fact, industrial dairies replace the rush leaves with bands of green paper. In the course of its maturing, Livarot is coloured reddish-orange with the natural taint of rocou, a South American plant. This makes the rind smooth and brilliant. Depending on the length of maturing, the pâte is golden yellow with a taste that is perfumed and slightly piquant. The lovers of this cheese delight in its strong odour and full flavor.