Brie de Meaux Cheese vs Mâconnais Cheese

Brie de Meaux Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Mâconnais Cheese is soft, homogenous, creamy, firm, smooth 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 Mâconnais Cheese?

Mâconnais is a small goat's milk cheese from Burgundy, France, sometimes made with a mix of goat's and cow's milk. It is shaped like a little truncated cone and has held AOC certification since 2005.

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

• Milk type: Brie de Meaux Cheese (cow's milk), Mâconnais Cheese (Goat's milk)
• Milk treatment: Brie de Meaux Cheese (unpasteurized), Mâconnais Cheese (Raw)
• Texture: Brie de Meaux Cheese (Soft), Mâconnais Cheese (Soft, homogenous, creamy, firm, smooth)
• Rind: Brie de Meaux Cheese (White mold), Mâconnais Cheese (Covered mainly with geotrichum; may develop blue penicillium marks)
• Aging: Brie de Meaux Cheese (Minimum of 4 weeks), Mâconnais Cheese (Minimum ripening period results in a weight of 50 to 65 g)
• Taste: Brie de Meaux Cheese (Cream, butter, hazelnuts), Mâconnais Cheese (salty, tangy)

Side-by-Side Comparison

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

Brie de Meaux Cheese reads as cream, butter, hazelnuts, while Mâconnais Cheese brings salty, tangy character. Aging plays into this as well. Brie de Meaux Cheese at minimum of 4 weeks develops a different profile than Mâconnais Cheese at minimum ripening period results in a weight of 50 to 65 g.

Can You Substitute Brie de Meaux Cheese for Mâconnais Cheese?

Brie de Meaux Cheese can stand in for Mâconnais 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, homogenous, creamy, firm, smooth. Flavor-wise, Brie de Meaux Cheese reads as cream, butter, hazelnuts while Mâconnais Cheese brings salty, tangy notes.

Which Is Better, Brie de Meaux Cheese or Mâconnais 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, homogenous, creamy, firm, smooth profile, Mâconnais Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brie de Meaux Cheese suits recipes that want cream, butter, hazelnuts notes, while Mâconnais Cheese fits dishes calling for salty, tangy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brie de Meaux Cheese the same as Mâconnais Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brie de Meaux Cheese is made from cow milk; Mâconnais Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Brie de Meaux Cheese is typically aged minimum of 4 weeks, Mâconnais Cheese minimum ripening period results in a weight of 50 to 65 g.

Is Brie de Meaux Cheese similar to Mâconnais Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Brie de Meaux Cheese for Mâconnais Cheese?

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

Does Brie de Meaux Cheese taste like Mâconnais Cheese?

Brie de Meaux Cheese reads as cream, butter, hazelnuts, while Mâconnais Cheese is salty, tangy.

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 Mâconnais Cheese made of?

Mâconnais Cheese is made from goat milk (raw), using small amount added rennet. It's typically aged minimum ripening period results in a weight of 50 to 65 g. It originates in France.

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

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brie de Meaux Cheese is soft, while Mâconnais Cheese is soft, homogenous, creamy, firm, smooth.