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Brie Cheese vs Red Leicester Cheese
Brie Cheese
Red Leicester Cheese
In this article, we'll explore the answers to the most common questions about Brie Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese, including:
- "What is the difference between Brie Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese?"
- "Is Brie Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese the same?"
- "How does Brie Cheese compare to Red Leicester Cheese cheese?"
- "How does the taste of Brie Cheese compare to Red Leicester Cheese?"
- "Is Brie Cheese or Red Leicester Cheese better?"
Brie Cheese Overview
Brie is a soft cheese named after the French region from which it originated. It’s famous for its creamy interior and edible white rind. Brie has a rich, buttery flavor with hints of mushrooms and almonds. It’s often served at room temperature on cheese platters or used in cooking for its ability to add depth and creaminess to recipes.
Red Leicester Cheese Overview
Red Leicester is a traditional English cheese made from cow's milk, similar to cheddar but with a more moist, crumblier texture and a milder flavor. It's notable for its vibrant orange color, achieved by adding annatto to the milk. Aged Red Leicester develops a slightly nutty taste, making it a favorite for cheese platters and grating over dishes.
Comparing the Two Cheeses
Country of Origin
Brie Cheese comes from France. Red Leicester Cheese originated from United Kingdom.
Milk Type and Treatment
Brie Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically raw or pasteurized. Red Leicester Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically pasteurized or unpasteurized.
Composition and Texture
Brie's texture can be described as "soft". Red Leicester Cheese has a fat content of high and a moisture content of none. Red Leicester's texture can be described as "hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly".
Taste and Aroma
Brie Cheese has a nutty, mushroom taste. Red Leicester Cheese has a caramel, sweet taste. Red Leicester's aroma can be described as "mild".
Appearance and Aging
Brie Cheese's appearance is colored white . Red Leicester Cheese has a color of reddish-orange , comes in traditional cylindrical, industrial block and has an aging period of 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial .
Rind and Rennet Type
Brie Cheese's rind is described as bloomy and uses animal rennet. Red Leicester Cheese's rind is described as clothbound (sparkenhoe farm), plastic (industrial) , with animal rennet.
Ranking
Brie is ranked #5 out of 996 types based on community views. Red Leicester is ranked #69 out of 996 types based on community views.
Pairing Comparison
| Brie | Red Leicester | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | Apples, Apricot, Asian Pear, Asti Spumante, Beaujolais, Belgian Blonde, Bresaola, Cabernet Franc, California Viogniers, Cava, Champagne, Crackers, Dried Cranberries, Dried Fruit, Fig Jam, Fruit Compote, Gamay, Ginger, Grapes, Hard Cider, Honey, Honeycomb, Kombucha, Mangoes, Merlot, Mushrooms, Pear, Pecans, Pistachios, Port, Prosecco, Raspberry, Sparkling Rosé, Strawberries, Turkey, Viognier, White Burgundy | No pairings listed. |
| Other Good Pairings | Almonds, Bordeaux, Burgundy Red, Dijon Mustard, Dried Figs, German Riesling, Green Apple, Green Tea, GrĂĽner Veltliner, Ham, Kiwi, Muscat, Prosciutto, Pumpkin, Roasted Vegetables, Salmon, Scotch, Sweet Potato | No additional pairings listed. |
For more details, check the full pairing guides on the Brie and Red Leicester pages.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Brie Cheese | Red Leicester Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | United Kingdom |
| Specific Origin | Brie | Leicestershire |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw, Pasteurized | Unpasteurized (Sparkenhoe Farm), Pasteurized (others) |
| Fat Content | Not Specified | High |
| Moisture Content | Not Specified | Medium |
| Rind | Bloomy | Clothbound (Sparkenhoe Farm), Plastic (industrial) |
| Texture | Soft | Hard, similar to Cheddar but more moist, crumbly |
| Taste | Nutty, Mushroom | Caramel, sweet |
| Aroma | Not Specified | Mild |
| Colors | White | Reddish-orange |
| Forms | Not Specified | Traditional cylindrical, industrial block |
| Age | Not Specified | 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial |
| Rennet Type | Animal | Animal |
Which One Should You Choose?
If you prefer a soft cheese, go for Brie. But if you enjoy a hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly consistency, Red Leicester might be the better pick. Brie has a nutty, mushroom taste, making it great for various dishes. Meanwhile, Red Leicester offers a caramel, sweet profile, ideal for different meals.
