Boursin Cheese vs Camembert de Normandie Cheese

Boursin Cheese is a soft, creamy cow-milk cheese from France, while Camembert de Normandie Cheese is soft, creamy and made from cow milk, originating in France.

What Is Boursin Cheese?

Boursin is a French brand of soft, fresh Gournay-style cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk and cream with herbs mixed in. It spreads easily, crumbles a little, and is best known for its original garlic and fine herbs flavour.

What Is Camembert de Normandie Cheese?

Camembert de Normandie is the AOC version of Camembert, a soft, surface-ripened cow's milk cheese from Normandy in northwest France. The rules require raw milk from Normande cows, and each small round is covered by a bloomy white rind.

What's the Difference Between Boursin Cheese and Camembert de Normandie Cheese?

• Milk treatment: Boursin Cheese (Pasteurized), Camembert de Normandie Cheese (unpasteurized)
• Rind: Boursin Cheese (None), Camembert de Normandie Cheese (Bloomy, white)
• Aging: Boursin Cheese (Fresh (not aged)), Camembert de Normandie Cheese (~30 days)
• Taste: Boursin Cheese (Garlic and herbs, pepper, or shallots and chive), Camembert de Normandie Cheese (Young: Lactic, tangy, sweet; Aged: Pungent, mushroom, garlic)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Boursin Cheese Taste Like Camembert de Normandie Cheese?

Boursin Cheese reads as garlic and herbs, pepper, or shallots and chive, while Camembert de Normandie Cheese brings young: lactic, tangy, sweet; aged: pungent, mushroom, garlic character. On the nose, Boursin Cheese offers mild, contrasted with Camembert de Normandie Cheese's lactic to pungent with notes of mushroom and garlic. More specifically, Boursin Cheese shows fresh, with added flavors like garlic, herbs, pepper, or shallots and chive, while Camembert de Normandie Cheese leans toward starts with a tangy, sweet flavor, evolving into more pungent notes of mushroom and garlic as it ages. the texture also evolves from somewhat crumbly to satisfyingly sticky and chewy.. Aging plays into this as well. Boursin Cheese at fresh (not aged) develops a different profile than Camembert de Normandie Cheese at ~30 days.

Can You Substitute Boursin Cheese for Camembert de Normandie Cheese?

In most recipes, Boursin Cheese and Camembert de Normandie Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Flavor-wise, Boursin Cheese reads as garlic and herbs, pepper, or shallots and chive while Camembert de Normandie Cheese brings young: lactic, tangy, sweet; aged: pungent, mushroom, garlic notes.

Which Is Better, Boursin Cheese or Camembert de Normandie Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. Flavor-wise, Boursin Cheese suits recipes that want garlic and herbs, pepper, or shallots and chive notes, while Camembert de Normandie Cheese fits dishes calling for young: lactic, tangy, sweet; aged: pungent, mushroom, garlic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boursin Cheese the same as Camembert de Normandie Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Boursin Cheese is typically aged fresh (not aged), Camembert de Normandie Cheese ~30 days.

Is Boursin Cheese similar to Camembert de Normandie Cheese?

Yes, they share close profiles. Same milk base and similar texture make them workable alternatives in many recipes.

Can I substitute Boursin Cheese for Camembert de Normandie Cheese?

Yes, quite easily. The milk base and texture are close enough that most recipes won't notice the swap.

Does Boursin Cheese taste like Camembert de Normandie Cheese?

Boursin Cheese reads as garlic and herbs, pepper, or shallots and chive, while Camembert de Normandie Cheese is young: lactic, tangy, sweet; aged: pungent, mushroom, garlic. Aromas also diverge. Boursin Cheese leans mild, and Camembert de Normandie Cheese is closer to lactic to pungent with notes of mushroom and garlic.

What is Boursin Cheese made of?

Boursin Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized), using microbial rennet. It's typically aged fresh (not aged). It originates in France.

What is Camembert de Normandie Cheese made of?

Camembert de Normandie Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized). It's typically aged ~30 days. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Boursin Cheese or Camembert de Normandie Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.