Brie Cheese vs Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese

Brie Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is soft and made from cow milk, originating in Switzerland.

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 Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

Vacherin Mont d'Or is a soft, seasonal cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of Switzerland and France. It is bound in a strip of spruce bark, sold in a round spruce box, and often warmed in that box and eaten like fondue.

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

• Origin: Brie Cheese (France), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (Switzerland)
• Milk treatment: Brie Cheese (Raw, Pasteurized), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (thermized (Swiss), raw (French))
• Texture: Brie Cheese (Soft), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (soft)
• Rind: Brie Cheese (Bloomy), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (washed rind)
• Aging: Brie Cheese (at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (at least 2 weeks)

Side-by-Side Comparison

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

Their flavor profiles are distinct. 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 Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese at at least 2 weeks.

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

In most recipes, Brie Cheese and Vacherin Mont-d'Or 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 soft.

Which Is Better, Brie Cheese or Vacherin Mont-d'Or 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 profile, Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is the better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brie Cheese originates in France, while Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese comes from Switzerland. Aging also differs: Brie Cheese is typically aged at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir, Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese at least 2 weeks.

Is Brie Cheese similar to Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

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

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

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

Does Brie Cheese taste like Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.

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 Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese made of?

Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (thermized (swiss), raw (french)). It's typically aged at least 2 weeks. It originates in Switzerland.

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

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brie Cheese is soft, while Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is soft.