Brin d'Amour Cheese vs Dorset Blue Cheese

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

What Is Brin d'Amour Cheese?

Brin d'Amour is a cheese from Corsica, France, made from pasteurized sheep's milk. It has a soft to firm texture and a natural rind. The flavor is earthy with a pronounced milk taste that becomes stronger as it ages. The herbaceous aroma comes from the coating of local herbs on the rind, which also influences the flavor over time. The cheese is white in color and typically aged for 1 to 3 months. As it matures, the herbal influence becomes more prominent. Brin d'Amour offers a taste of Corsica with each bite.

What Is Dorset Blue Cheese?

Dorset Blue Cheese is a lightly pressed, firm-textured blue cheese made in Dorset, England. It has a uniform color with irregular blue-green veining and a rough, dry brown mold coating. The cheese has a piquant, peppery flavor that ranges from mild to strong. Made using skimmed cow’s milk, the tradition of using lower-fat milk dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries when it was made from residual milk left after cream skimming. The production process includes hand-breaking curds, salting, light pressing, and maturing for 12 to 20 weeks. The cheese is pierced after four weeks to develop its signature blue veining. Dorset’s lush pasture, supported by Oxford clay soil, contributes to the unique flavor of the milk used in the cheese.

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

• Milk type: Brin d'Amour Cheese (sheep's milk), Dorset Blue Cheese (Cow)
• Milk treatment: Brin d'Amour Cheese (pasteurized), Dorset Blue Cheese (Skimmed)
• Texture: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Soft to firm), Dorset Blue Cheese (Firm)
• Rind: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Natural), Dorset Blue Cheese (Rough, dry brown mold coating)
• Aging: Brin d'Amour Cheese (1 to 3 months), Dorset Blue Cheese (12 to 20 weeks)
• Taste: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Earthy), Dorset Blue Cheese (Piquant, peppery, mild to strong)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Brin d'Amour Cheese Taste Like Dorset Blue Cheese?

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Dorset Blue Cheese brings piquant, peppery, mild to strong character. Aging plays into this as well. Brin d'Amour Cheese at 1 to 3 months develops a different profile than Dorset Blue Cheese at 12 to 20 weeks.

Can You Substitute Brin d'Amour Cheese for Dorset Blue Cheese?

Brin d'Amour Cheese can stand in for Dorset Blue 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 firm. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy while Dorset Blue Cheese brings piquant, peppery, mild to strong notes.

Which Is Better, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Dorset Blue 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 firm profile, Dorset Blue Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese suits recipes that want earthy notes, while Dorset Blue Cheese fits dishes calling for piquant, peppery, mild to strong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brin d'Amour Cheese the same as Dorset Blue Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brin d'Amour Cheese is made from sheep milk; Dorset Blue Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Brin d'Amour Cheese is typically aged 1 to 3 months, Dorset Blue Cheese 12 to 20 weeks.

Is Brin d'Amour Cheese similar to Dorset Blue Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Brin d'Amour Cheese for Dorset Blue Cheese?

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

Does Brin d'Amour Cheese taste like Dorset Blue Cheese?

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Dorset Blue Cheese is piquant, peppery, mild to strong.

What is Brin d'Amour Cheese made of?

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

What is Dorset Blue Cheese made of?

Dorset Blue Cheese is made from cow milk (skimmed). It's typically aged 12 to 20 weeks.

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

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