Brie Cheese vs Brin d'Amour Cheese

Brie Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Brin d'Amour Cheese is soft to firm and made from sheep milk, originating in France.

What Is Brie Cheese?

Brie is a soft cow's milk cheese named after the French region it comes from, pale under a white mould rind. It runs 60 to 75 percent butterfat and tastes creamy, nutty and mushroom-like, with a faint acidity. The rind is eaten along with the paste.

What Is Brin d'Amour Cheese?

Brin d'amour is a Corsican raw sheep's milk cheese created in the 1950s. It is known for a natural rind dusted with herbs of the maquis, which pass their flavor into the soft ivory paste as the cheese ages.

What's the Difference Between Brie Cheese and Brin d'Amour Cheese?

• Milk type: Brie Cheese (cow's milk), Brin d'Amour Cheese (sheep's milk)
• Milk treatment: Brie Cheese (Raw, Pasteurized), Brin d'Amour Cheese (raw)
• Texture: Brie Cheese (Soft), Brin d'Amour Cheese (Soft to firm)
• Rind: Brie Cheese (Bloomy), Brin d'Amour Cheese (Natural)
• Aging: Brie Cheese (at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir), Brin d'Amour Cheese (1 to 3 months)
• Taste: Brie Cheese (Nutty, Mushroom), Brin d'Amour Cheese (Earthy)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Brie Cheese Taste Like Brin d'Amour Cheese?

Brie Cheese reads as nutty, mushroom, while Brin d'Amour Cheese brings earthy character. On the nose, Brie Cheese offers ammoniated when overripe, contrasted with Brin d'Amour Cheese's herbaceous. More specifically, Brie Cheese shows creamy, nutty, mushroom-like, slightly acidic, while Brin d'Amour Cheese leans toward pronounced milk flavor, intensifies with age; herb influence grows. Aging plays into this as well. Brie Cheese at at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir develops a different profile than Brin d'Amour Cheese at 1 to 3 months.

Can You Substitute Brie Cheese for Brin d'Amour Cheese?

Brie Cheese can stand in for Brin d'Amour 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 to firm. Flavor-wise, Brie Cheese reads as nutty, mushroom while Brin d'Amour Cheese brings earthy notes.

Which Is Better, Brie Cheese or Brin d'Amour 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 Cheese. For a soft to firm profile, Brin d'Amour Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brie Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, mushroom notes, while Brin d'Amour Cheese fits dishes calling for earthy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brie Cheese the same as Brin d'Amour Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brie Cheese is made from cow milk; Brin d'Amour Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Brie Cheese is typically aged at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir, Brin d'Amour Cheese 1 to 3 months.

Is Brie Cheese similar to Brin d'Amour Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Brie Cheese for Brin d'Amour Cheese?

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

Does Brie Cheese taste like Brin d'Amour Cheese?

Brie Cheese reads as nutty, mushroom, while Brin d'Amour Cheese is earthy. Aromas also diverge. Brie Cheese leans ammoniated when overripe, and Brin d'Amour Cheese is closer to herbaceous.

What is Brie Cheese made of?

Brie Cheese is made from cow milk (raw, pasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir. It originates in France.

What is Brin d'Amour Cheese made of?

Brin d'Amour Cheese is made from sheep milk (raw). It's typically aged 1 to 3 months. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Brie Cheese or Brin d'Amour Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brie Cheese is soft, while Brin d'Amour Cheese is soft to firm.