Brin d'Amour Cheese vs Camembert Cheese

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

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 Is Camembert Cheese?

Camembert is a moist, soft, surface-ripened cow's milk cheese from Normandy, first made in the late 18th century. Penicillium camemberti gives it a white bloomy rind and a creamy interior, with a taste stronger and slightly more sour than brie.

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

• Milk type: Brin d'Amour Cheese (sheep's milk), Camembert Cheese (cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Brin d'Amour Cheese (raw), Camembert Cheese (unpasteurized for AOC Camembert de Normandie, pasteurized for most other versions)
• Texture: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Soft to firm), Camembert Cheese (soft, artisan)
• Rind: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Natural), Camembert Cheese (Bloomy)
• Aging: Brin d'Amour Cheese (1 to 3 months), Camembert Cheese (minimum 3 weeks)
• Taste: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Earthy), Camembert Cheese (slightly sour, stronger than brie)

Side-by-Side Comparison

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

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Camembert Cheese brings slightly sour, stronger than brie character. On the nose, Brin d'Amour Cheese offers herbaceous, contrasted with Camembert Cheese's buttery, rich. More specifically, Brin d'Amour Cheese shows pronounced milk flavor, intensifies with age; herb influence grows, while Camembert Cheese leans toward slightly sour, sometimes chalky, stronger than brie of the same ripening time; ammonia when overripe. Aging plays into this as well. Brin d'Amour Cheese at 1 to 3 months develops a different profile than Camembert Cheese at minimum 3 weeks.

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

Brin d'Amour Cheese can stand in for Camembert Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft to firm bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, artisan. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy while Camembert Cheese brings slightly sour, stronger than brie notes.

Which Is Better, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Camembert Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft to firm cheese, go with Brin d'Amour Cheese. For a soft, artisan profile, Camembert Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese suits recipes that want earthy notes, while Camembert Cheese fits dishes calling for slightly sour, stronger than brie.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brin d'Amour Cheese is made from sheep milk; Camembert Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Brin d'Amour Cheese is typically aged 1 to 3 months, Camembert Cheese minimum 3 weeks.

Is Brin d'Amour Cheese similar to Camembert Cheese?

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

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

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

Does Brin d'Amour Cheese taste like Camembert Cheese?

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Camembert Cheese is slightly sour, stronger than brie. Aromas also diverge. Brin d'Amour Cheese leans herbaceous, and Camembert Cheese is closer to buttery, rich.

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.

What is Camembert Cheese made of?

Camembert Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized for aoc camembert de normandie, pasteurized for most other versions). It's typically aged minimum 3 weeks. It originates in France.

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

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