Brie de Meaux Cheese vs Mimolette Cheese

Brie de Meaux Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Mimolette Cheese is smooth, creamy body and made from cow 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 Mimolette Cheese?

Mimolette is a hard, bright orange cow's milk cheese made around Lille in northern France. It is sold at several ages, from young wheels that taste like Parmesan to extra-old ones with a hazelnut flavor and a grey, mite-worked rind.

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

• Milk treatment: Brie de Meaux Cheese (unpasteurized), Mimolette Cheese (Pasteurized)
• Texture: Brie de Meaux Cheese (Soft), Mimolette Cheese (Smooth, creamy body)
• Rind: Brie de Meaux Cheese (White mold), Mimolette Cheese (Natural)
• Aging: Brie de Meaux Cheese (Minimum of 4 weeks), Mimolette Cheese (6 weeks to 24 months)
• Taste: Brie de Meaux Cheese (Cream, butter, hazelnuts), Mimolette Cheese (Sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel)

Side-by-Side Comparison

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

Brie de Meaux Cheese reads as cream, butter, hazelnuts, while Mimolette Cheese brings sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel character. On the nose, Brie de Meaux Cheese offers buttery, sweet, contrasted with Mimolette Cheese's butterscotch. More specifically, Brie de Meaux Cheese shows delicate aromas of cream, butter, and hazelnuts, while Mimolette Cheese leans toward mature: dense, waxy, hints of butterscotch; young: mild. Aging plays into this as well. Brie de Meaux Cheese at minimum of 4 weeks develops a different profile than Mimolette Cheese at 6 weeks to 24 months.

Can You Substitute Brie de Meaux Cheese for Mimolette Cheese?

In most recipes, Brie de Meaux Cheese and Mimolette Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for smooth, creamy body. Flavor-wise, Brie de Meaux Cheese reads as cream, butter, hazelnuts while Mimolette Cheese brings sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel notes.

Which Is Better, Brie de Meaux Cheese or Mimolette 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 smooth, creamy body profile, Mimolette Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brie de Meaux Cheese suits recipes that want cream, butter, hazelnuts notes, while Mimolette Cheese fits dishes calling for sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brie de Meaux Cheese the same as Mimolette Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Brie de Meaux Cheese is typically aged minimum of 4 weeks, Mimolette Cheese 6 weeks to 24 months.

Is Brie de Meaux Cheese similar to Mimolette Cheese?

Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.

Can I substitute Brie de Meaux Cheese for Mimolette Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Does Brie de Meaux Cheese taste like Mimolette Cheese?

Brie de Meaux Cheese reads as cream, butter, hazelnuts, while Mimolette Cheese is sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel. Aromas also diverge. Brie de Meaux Cheese leans buttery, sweet, and Mimolette Cheese is closer to butterscotch.

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 Mimolette Cheese made of?

Mimolette Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 6 weeks to 24 months. It originates in France.

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

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