Brie Cheese vs Mont d'Or Cheese

Brie Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft and made from cow 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 Mont d'Or Cheese?

Mont d'Or is a seasonal soft cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of France and Switzerland, wrapped in a band of spruce that gives it its flavor. It sells from September 10 to May 10 and is usually warmed in its spruce box and eaten like fondue.

What's the Difference Between Brie Cheese and Mont d'Or Cheese?

• Milk treatment: Brie Cheese (Raw, Pasteurized), Mont d'Or Cheese (Raw)
• Rind: Brie Cheese (Bloomy), Mont d'Or Cheese (Washed rind)
• Aging: Brie Cheese (at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir), Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days)
• Taste: Brie Cheese (Nutty, Mushroom), Mont d'Or Cheese (Resinous, mild to pungent)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Brie Cheese Taste Like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Brie Cheese reads as nutty, mushroom, while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent character. More specifically, Brie Cheese shows creamy, nutty, mushroom-like, slightly acidic, while Mont d'Or Cheese leans toward known for its creamy taste and powerful aroma; gets resinous flavor from spruce bark. 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 Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days.

Can You Substitute Brie Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

In most recipes, Brie Cheese and Mont d'Or Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Flavor-wise, Brie Cheese reads as nutty, mushroom while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent notes.

Which Is Better, Brie Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. Flavor-wise, Brie Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, mushroom notes, while Mont d'Or Cheese fits dishes calling for resinous, mild to pungent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brie Cheese the same as Mont d'Or Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Brie Cheese is typically aged at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir, Mont d'Or Cheese 21 to 60 days.

Is Brie Cheese similar to Mont d'Or Cheese?

Yes, they share close profiles. Same milk base and similar texture make them workable alternatives in many recipes.

Can I substitute Brie Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

Yes, quite easily. The milk base and texture are close enough that most recipes won't notice the swap.

Does Brie Cheese taste like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Brie Cheese reads as nutty, mushroom, while Mont d'Or Cheese is resinous, mild to pungent.

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 Mont d'Or Cheese made of?

Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 21 to 60 days. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Brie Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.