Cheeses from France

A guide to cheeses from France, highlighting the country's most notable and diverse varieties.

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Brie

Brie is a soft cheese named after the French region from which it originated. It’s famous for its creamy interior and edible white rind. Brie has a rich, buttery flavor with hints of mushrooms and almonds. It’s often served at …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Buttery , Creamy , Smooth , Soft
Flavor: Nutty, Mushroom

Camembert

Camembert is a famous French cheese with a soft, creamy interior and a <a href="https://anycheese.com/glossary/bloomy-rind/" title="Detailed Article About Bloomy Rind Cheeses">bloomy rind</a>. It's made from cow's milk and has a rich, buttery flavor with earthy undertones. True Camembert from Normandy …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Soft
Flavor: Sweet

Reblochon

Reblochon is a soft washed-rind and smear-ripened French cheese from the Alps region of Savoy. The cheese has a creamy, nutty taste under its orange-colored rind. It was traditionally made using the second milking of cows, which produces a richer …

Country: France
Milk Type: Raw whole cow’s milk
Texture: Ivory-colored, creamy and supple
Flavor: Creamy, nutty

Blue

A type of cheese injected or inoculated with Penicillium mold to create blue or green veins, resulting in a tangy, sharp flavor and creamy or crumbly texture.

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow, Sheep, Goat
Texture: Creamy , Crumbly , Granular , Soft
Flavor: Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent

Roquefort

Roquefort is a famous blue cheese from the south of France, made from sheep's milk. It is known for its strong, tangy flavor and moist, crumbly texture. The cheese is ripened in the natural Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, where it …

Country: France
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Moist, very creamy
Flavor: Mild to strong

Mimolette

Mimolette is a hard cheese from the region of Lille, France, known for its bright orange color and spherical shape. It has a firm texture and a nutty, sweet flavor that deepens as it ages. Older Mimolette is known for …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Smooth, creamy body
Flavor: Sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel

Munster

Munster is a strong-smelling, soft cheese from the Alsace and Lorraine regions of France. It has a washed rind, which gives it a red-orange color and a distinctive pungent aroma. The flavor is rich and tangy, often enjoyed with cumin …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semisoft
Flavor: Strong, gamey

Beaufort

Beaufort is a smooth, creamy cheese from the Savoie region of France. Known for its distinct concave wheel shape, it is produced from raw cow's milk and aged in mountain caves for a minimum of five months. Beaufort has a …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Hard

Saint-Nectaire

Saint-Nectaire is a semi-soft, washed-rind cheese from the volcanic region in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes of France. Made from cow's milk, it has a creamy, supple texture with earthy notes and hints of nuts and mushrooms. Saint-Nectaire is typically aged for at …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow’s milk (Holstein, Montbéliarde, sometimes Salers)
Texture: Soft and tender
Flavor: Delicate hazelnut

Maroilles

Maroilles, also known as Marolles, is a strong-smelling, washed-rind cheese from northern France. It has a soft, moist texture and a rich, intense flavor with earthy notes. Maroilles is often used in cooking, especially in regional dishes like "flamiche aux …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semisoft
Flavor: Creamy taste, powerful aroma

Comté

Comté is a French cheese made from cow's milk in the Jura region of France. It is one of the most popular AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) cheeses, known for its complex flavors which can include hints of apricot, chocolate, butter, …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's Milk
Texture: Smooth; Semi-hard
Flavor: Nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted

Coulommiers

Coulommiers is a soft cheese from the Brie region of France, similar to Brie but smaller in size. It has a creamy texture and a mild, buttery flavor that becomes more earthy and complex as it ripens. The cheese is …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Soft
Flavor: Fresh, creamy to fine, stronger

Mont d'Or

Mont d'Or, or Vacherin Mont d'Or, is a seasonal, soft cheese made from cow's milk in the Jura region of France. Available from September to May, it has a delicate, creamy texture and a rich, earthy flavor. Mont d'Or is …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Soft
Flavor: Resinous, mild to pungent

Brie de Meaux

Brie de Meaux is a variety of Brie that is considered one of the finest cheeses in the world, holding AOC designation. It features a more complex flavor profile than regular Brie, including a rich, creamy interior with flavors of …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Soft
Flavor: Cream, butter, hazelnuts

Cancoillotte

Cancoillotte is made from cow's milk in the Franche-Comté region of France. This cheese is usually sold in a semi-liquid form and has a smooth, velvety texture with a mild, slightly nutty flavor. It can be enjoyed warm or cold, …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Smooth, creamy
Flavor: Varies

Neufchâtel

Neufchâtel is one of France’s oldest cheeses, dating back to the 6th century. Originating from Normandy, this soft, slightly crumbly cheese is made from cow's milk and is similar to Camembert but heart-shaped with a soft, velvety rind. It has …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Soft
Flavor: Creamy

Valençay

Valençay is an unpasteurized goat cheese from the Berry province of France, known for its distinctive truncated pyramidal shape and ash-covered rind. It has a soft, creamy texture and a mild, lemony flavor with a hint of saltiness. The cheese's …

Country: France
Milk Type: Goat’s milk
Texture: Fresh: fine and creamy; Mature: slightly crumbly
Flavor: Goat, undergrowth, floral hints

Charolais

Charolais is a goat's milk cheese from Burgundy. It is cylindrical in shape and has a firm, yet creamy texture. As it ages, its flavor becomes more pronounced, developing a complex nuttiness with a slight tang. Charolais is often enjoyed …

Country: France
Milk Type: Goat's milk
Texture: Semi-soft
Flavor: Acidic, salty, sweet

Abondance

Abondance is a traditional French cheese from the Haute-Savoie region, easily recognized by its firm texture and concave wheel shape. Made from raw cow's milk, it matures for at least three months, developing a creamy, slightly nutty flavor. Its rind, …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semi-Hard
Flavor: Savory, yet fruity with an intense "umami" taste

Banon

Banon comes from Provence, France, and is distinguished by its unique packaging—wrapped in chestnut leaves and tied with raffia. Made from goat’s milk, this soft cheese has a creamy texture and a fruity, slightly tart flavor that is enhanced by …

Country: France
Milk Type: Goat's milk
Texture: Soft
Flavor: Mild and intense, with notes of mushrooms and forest floor

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