This cheese has been the subject of a slow, but radical evolution through the centuries. Once, it was made from goat's milk, today, it is made entirely from cow's milk. This evolution was principally due to the fact that cows give a much larger quantity of milk than goats. Lyonnais gives off a subtle odour of the farm, its taste is faintly acidic and salty, similar to its cousin "Saint-Marcellin".