Brie de Meaux Cheese vs Roquefort Cheese
Brie de Meaux Cheese
Roquefort Cheese
Brie de Meaux Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Roquefort Cheese is moist, very creamy and made from sheep milk, originating in France.
What Is Brie de Meaux Cheese?
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 mushrooms, almonds, and truffles. Its rind is bloomy and edible, contributing a rustic, earthy note to its taste.
What Is Roquefort Cheese?
Roquefort is a famous blue cheese from the south of France, made from sheep's milk. It is known for its strong, tangy flavor and moist, crumbly texture. The cheese is ripened in the natural Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, where it develops its characteristic blue veins from the mold Penicillium roqueforti.
What's the Difference Between Brie de Meaux Cheese and Roquefort Cheese?
- Milk type: Brie de Meaux Cheese (cow's milk), Roquefort Cheese (sheep's milk)
- Texture: Brie de Meaux Cheese (Soft), Roquefort Cheese (Moist, very creamy)
- Aging: Brie de Meaux Cheese (Minimum of 4 weeks), Roquefort Cheese (Minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months)
- Taste: Brie de Meaux Cheese (Cream, butter, hazelnuts), Roquefort Cheese (Mild to strong)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Brie de Meaux Cheese | Roquefort Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | France |
| Specific Origin | Meaux | Roquefort-Sur-Soulzon, South Of France |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Unpasteurized | Unpasteurized |
| Texture | Soft | Moist, very creamy |
| Rind | White mold | — |
| Aging | Minimum of 4 weeks | Minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months |
| Taste | Cream, butter, hazelnuts | Mild to strong |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese — wines, foods, breads, and more.
| Brie de Meaux Cheese | Roquefort Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | — | Bordeaux |
| Other Good Pairings | — | Barleywine, Beaujolais, Madeira, Port |
Which would you pick?
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Where to buy Brie de Meaux Cheese and Roquefort Cheese
Brie de Meaux Cheese
Roquefort Cheese
Taste Comparison: Does Brie de Meaux Cheese Taste Like Roquefort Cheese?
Brie de Meaux Cheese reads as cream, butter, hazelnuts, while Roquefort Cheese brings mild to strong character. On the nose, Brie de Meaux Cheese offers buttery, sweet, contrasted with Roquefort Cheese's sweet. More specifically, Brie de Meaux Cheese shows delicate aromas of cream, butter, and hazelnuts, while Roquefort Cheese leans toward buttercream smooth to salty and sharp. Aging plays into this as well. Brie de Meaux Cheese at minimum of 4 weeks develops a different profile than Roquefort Cheese at minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months.
Can You Substitute Brie de Meaux Cheese for Roquefort Cheese?
Brie de Meaux Cheese can stand in for Roquefort 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 moist, very creamy. Flavor-wise, Brie de Meaux Cheese reads as cream, butter, hazelnuts while Roquefort Cheese brings mild to strong notes.
Which Is Better, Brie de Meaux Cheese or Roquefort 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 moist, very creamy profile, Roquefort Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brie de Meaux Cheese suits recipes that want cream, butter, hazelnuts notes, while Roquefort Cheese fits dishes calling for mild to strong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brie de Meaux Cheese the same as Roquefort Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Brie de Meaux Cheese is made from cow milk; Roquefort Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Brie de Meaux Cheese is typically aged minimum of 4 weeks, Roquefort Cheese minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months.
Is Brie de Meaux Cheese similar to Roquefort Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Brie de Meaux Cheese for Roquefort Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Brie de Meaux Cheese taste like Roquefort Cheese?
Brie de Meaux Cheese reads as cream, butter, hazelnuts, while Roquefort Cheese is mild to strong. Aromas also diverge. Brie de Meaux Cheese leans buttery, sweet, and Roquefort Cheese is closer to sweet.
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 Roquefort Cheese made of?
Roquefort Cheese is made from sheep milk (unpasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Brie de Meaux Cheese or Roquefort Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brie de Meaux Cheese is soft, while Roquefort Cheese is moist, very creamy.
See full profiles: Brie de Meaux Cheese and Roquefort Cheese.