Brie de Melun Cheese vs Cheddar Cheese

Q: Is Brie de Melun Cheese the same as Cheddar Cheese?

No. Brie de Melun Cheese and Cheddar Cheese are distinct cheeses from France and England respectively. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Brie de Melun Cheese for Cheddar Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Brie de Melun Cheese for Cheddar Cheese, though the result will shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Q: Which should I choose, Brie de Melun Cheese or Cheddar Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture and flavor rows in the table above are the best guide. Pick the one whose profile fits your recipe or board.

Brie de Melun Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Cheddar Cheese is varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) and made from cow milk, originating in England.

What Is Brie de Melun Cheese?

Brie de Melun is a soft unpasteurised cow's milk cheese from the Brie region of France, one of only two bries the French government certifies. It is smaller than Brie de Meaux, with a stronger flavour and a more pungent smell, and has held AOC status since 1980.

What Is Cheddar Cheese?

Cheddar is a relatively hard, off-white to orange cow's milk cheese from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, South West England. The name is not protected, so it is made worldwide, and it is the UK's most popular cheese at 51% of the national cheese market.

What's the Difference Between Brie de Melun Cheese and Cheddar Cheese?

Origin: Brie de Melun Cheese (France), Cheddar Cheese (England)
Milk treatment: Brie de Melun Cheese (unpasteurized), Cheddar Cheese (Raw, Thermized, Pasteurized)
Texture: Brie de Melun Cheese (Soft), Cheddar Cheese (Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline))
Rind: Brie de Melun Cheese (Bloomy), Cheddar Cheese (Varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic))
Aging: Brie de Melun Cheese (at least four or five weeks), Cheddar Cheese (A few months to several years)
Taste: Brie de Melun Cheese (salty, sharp, sour, strong), Cheddar Cheese (Mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Brie de Melun Cheese	Cheddar Cheese
Country of Origin	France	England
Specific Origin	Melun	Southwest (Somerset, Gloucester)
Milk Type	Cow's milk	Cow's milk
Milk Treatment	Unpasteurized	Raw, Thermized, Pasteurized
Texture	Soft	Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline)
Rind	Bloomy	Varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic)
Aging	At least four or five weeks	A few months to several years
Taste	Salty, sharp, sour, strong	Mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory

Taste Comparison: Does Brie de Melun Cheese Taste Like Cheddar Cheese?

Brie de Melun Cheese reads as salty, sharp, sour, strong, while Cheddar Cheese brings mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory character. More specifically, Brie de Melun Cheese shows creamy, nutty, mushroom-like, slightly acidic, while Cheddar Cheese leans toward from mild and buttery to brothy and savory, with distinctive sharpness; variations in sweetness and flavor depending on the producer. Aging plays into this as well. Brie de Melun Cheese at at least four or five weeks develops a different profile than Cheddar Cheese at a few months to several years.

Can You Substitute Brie de Melun Cheese for Cheddar Cheese?

In most recipes, Brie de Melun Cheese and Cheddar 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 varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline). Flavor-wise, Brie de Melun Cheese reads as salty, sharp, sour, strong while Cheddar Cheese brings mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory notes.

Which Is Better, Brie de Melun Cheese or Cheddar 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 Melun Cheese. For a varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) profile, Cheddar Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brie de Melun Cheese suits recipes that want salty, sharp, sour, strong notes, while Cheddar Cheese fits dishes calling for mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory.

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brie de Melun Cheese the same as Cheddar Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brie de Melun Cheese originates in France, while Cheddar Cheese comes from England. Aging also differs: Brie de Melun Cheese is typically aged at least four or five weeks, Cheddar Cheese a few months to several years.

Is Brie de Melun Cheese similar to Cheddar Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Brie de Melun Cheese for Cheddar Cheese?

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

Does Brie de Melun Cheese taste like Cheddar Cheese?

Brie de Melun Cheese reads as salty, sharp, sour, strong, while Cheddar Cheese is mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory.

What is Brie de Melun Cheese made of?

Brie de Melun Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized). It's typically aged at least four or five weeks. It originates in France.

What is Cheddar Cheese made of?

Cheddar Cheese is made from cow milk (raw, thermized, pasteurized), using animal; microbial chymosin in vegetarian and kosher versions rennet. It's typically aged a few months to several years. It originates in England.

Which should I choose, Brie de Melun Cheese or Cheddar Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brie de Melun Cheese is soft, while Cheddar Cheese is varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline).