Cow Milk Cheeses from France

Discover cheeses made from cow milk in France, from historic recipes to contemporary creations.

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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

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

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

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

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

Époisses

Époisses is a strongly flavored, washed-rind cheese from Burgundy, made from cow's milk. It is known for its creamy texture and rich, intense flavor with hints of barnyard and bacon. The rind is washed with Marc de Bourgogne brandy during …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's Milk
Texture: Soft and creamy
Flavor: Subtle, fruity, distinctive, balanced

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

Cantal

Cantal is one of the oldest cheeses from France, originating from the Auvergne region. It comes in two varieties: young Cantal, which is soft and buttery, and aged Cantal, which is more robust and tangy. This firm cheese is similar …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Firm
Flavor: Varies

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

Livarot

Livarot is a strong-smelling, washed-rind cheese from Normandy. It is nicknamed "The Colonel" because of the five strips of raffia that encircle the cheese, similar to the stripes on a French army colonel's uniform. This cheese has a spicy, pungent …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Chewy, Melts in the mouth
Flavor: Pungent

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

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

Brillat-Savarin

Brillat-Savarin is a decadent triple-cream cheese named after the famous French gastronome. This cheese is exceptionally rich and creamy with at least 75% butterfat content. It has a mild, slightly tangy flavor with a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture, often enjoyed with …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Semisoft
Flavor: Luxurious, tangy, sour, mushroomy softened butter

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

Salers

Salers is a semi-hard cheese from the Auvergne region of France, made from the raw milk of Salers cows. It has a strong, complex flavor with spicy, fruity, and nutty notes and a firm, chewy texture. Traditionally, Salers is made …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's milk
Texture: Firm
Flavor: Strong-tasting

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

Pont-l'Évêque

Pont-l'Évêque is a French cheese from Normandy, known for its square shape and washed rind, which gives it a strong aroma. Despite its pungent smell, the cheese has a creamy, smooth texture and a rich, buttery flavor with slight tangy …

Country: France
Milk Type: Cow's Milk
Texture: Soft to Semi-hard
Flavor: Mild: herbaceous, milky, and creamy

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

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