Brie de Meaux Cheese vs Cabecou Cheese

Brie de Meaux Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Cabecou Cheese is soft, artisan and made from goat milk, originating in France.

What Is Brie de Meaux Cheese?

Brie de Meaux is a soft cheese made from raw cow's milk in the Brie region of France, an AOC product since 1980. Wheels run 36 to 37 cm (14 to 14+1/2 in) across, with a delicate white rind and a straw-yellow, creamy interior.

What Is Cabecou Cheese?

Cabécou is a small round goat cheese from the Midi-Pyrénées in southern France, usually made with raw milk. It weighs under 40 grams (1.4 oz), tastes mildly lactic, and turns sharper once blue mold grows on its crust after about two weeks.

What's the Difference Between Brie de Meaux Cheese and Cabecou Cheese?

• Milk type: Brie de Meaux Cheese (cow's milk), Cabecou Cheese (goat's milk)
• Milk treatment: Brie de Meaux Cheese (unpasteurized), Cabecou Cheese (raw)
• Texture: Brie de Meaux Cheese (Soft), Cabecou Cheese (soft, artisan)
• Rind: Brie de Meaux Cheese (White mold), Cabecou Cheese (bloomy, thin and striped)
• Aging: Brie de Meaux Cheese (Minimum of 4 weeks), Cabecou Cheese (ten days to four weeks)
• Taste: Brie de Meaux Cheese (Cream, butter, hazelnuts), Cabecou Cheese (smooth, tangy)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Brie de Meaux Cheese Taste Like Cabecou Cheese?

Brie de Meaux Cheese reads as cream, butter, hazelnuts, while Cabecou Cheese brings smooth, tangy character. On the nose, Brie de Meaux Cheese offers buttery, sweet, contrasted with Cabecou Cheese's aromatic. More specifically, Brie de Meaux Cheese shows delicate aromas of cream, butter, and hazelnuts, while Cabecou Cheese leans toward mildly lactic, sharper once blue mold grows on the crust. Aging plays into this as well. Brie de Meaux Cheese at minimum of 4 weeks develops a different profile than Cabecou Cheese at ten days to four weeks.

Can You Substitute Brie de Meaux Cheese for Cabecou Cheese?

Brie de Meaux Cheese can stand in for Cabecou Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, artisan. Flavor-wise, Brie de Meaux Cheese reads as cream, butter, hazelnuts while Cabecou Cheese brings smooth, tangy notes.

Which Is Better, Brie de Meaux Cheese or Cabecou Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Brie de Meaux Cheese. For a soft, artisan profile, Cabecou Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brie de Meaux Cheese suits recipes that want cream, butter, hazelnuts notes, while Cabecou Cheese fits dishes calling for smooth, tangy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brie de Meaux Cheese the same as Cabecou Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brie de Meaux Cheese is made from cow milk; Cabecou Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Brie de Meaux Cheese is typically aged minimum of 4 weeks, Cabecou Cheese ten days to four weeks.

Is Brie de Meaux Cheese similar to Cabecou Cheese?

Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.

Can I substitute Brie de Meaux Cheese for Cabecou Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.

Does Brie de Meaux Cheese taste like Cabecou Cheese?

Brie de Meaux Cheese reads as cream, butter, hazelnuts, while Cabecou Cheese is smooth, tangy. Aromas also diverge. Brie de Meaux Cheese leans buttery, sweet, and Cabecou Cheese is closer to aromatic.

What is Brie de Meaux Cheese made of?

Brie de Meaux Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized), using bovi rennet. It's typically aged minimum of 4 weeks. It originates in France.

What is Cabecou Cheese made of?

Cabecou Cheese is made from goat milk (raw). It's typically aged ten days to four weeks. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Brie de Meaux Cheese or Cabecou Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brie de Meaux Cheese is soft, while Cabecou Cheese is soft, artisan.