About Caprice des Dieux
Caprice des Dieux is an iconic French soft cheese created by Jean-Noël Bongrain in 1956 in the small village of Illoud, Haute-Marne, following five years of dedicated research. The name translates to 'Caprice of the Gods', perfectly capturing the divine indulgence of this uniquely creamy cheese that broke from traditional French cheesemaking conventions with its distinctive oval shape and revolutionary recipe. The story of Caprice des Dieux is inseparable from the Bongrain family legacy. Jean-Noël took control of his family's cheesemaking farm at just 19 years old after his brother was killed in the French Resistance during World War II. His vision for a cheese unlike any other would transform a small regional operation into an international success, with Caprice des Dieux captivating German consumers by the end of the 1950s and earning the prestigious French Good Taste Gold Cup from the Minister of Agriculture in 1964. Innovation has always defined the brand. In 1973, Caprice des Dieux became the first cheese in France to display a 'best before' date on packaging, setting industry standards for freshness transparency. The iconic tricolour packaging—blue for freshness, white for purity, red for passion—echoes the French flag and features the beloved angel motif introduced in the 1960s. The Mini Caprice format launched in 1988, anticipating the snacking trend by decades. Today, Caprice des Dieux remains exclusively produced in Illoud, with milk sourced from local farms within 70 kilometres of the cheese factory. Now part of Savencia Fromage & Dairy, the cheese continues to deliver the same creamy, mild indulgence that made it a global favourite. UK shoppers can find this French classic at Iceland and specialty cheese retailers.
