Brin d'Amour Cheese vs Exmoor Blue Cheese

Brin d'Amour Cheese is a soft to firm sheep-milk cheese from France, while Exmoor Blue Cheese is soft 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 Exmoor Blue Cheese?

Exmoor Blue Cheese is a full-fat soft blue-veined cheese made from unpasteurized Jersey cow’s milk in Devon and Somerset, England. It has a rich yellow color and a buttery texture, with an average fat content of 34%. The cheese has been handmade on Willet Farm since 1986, using traditional methods. It undergoes a maturation period of 3 to 6 weeks, during which it is regularly turned and treated with Penicillium roqueforti and Penicillium candidum to develop its distinctive blue veining. The lush pasture of the region, influenced by the warm, wet climate and red sandstone soil, contributes to the rich flavor of the milk used in production.

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

• Milk type: Brin d'Amour Cheese (sheep's milk), Exmoor Blue Cheese (Cow)
• Milk treatment: Brin d'Amour Cheese (pasteurized), Exmoor Blue Cheese (Unpasteurized)
• Texture: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Soft to firm), Exmoor Blue Cheese (Soft)
• Rind: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Natural), Exmoor Blue Cheese (Treated with Penicillium candidum)
• Aging: Brin d'Amour Cheese (1 to 3 months), Exmoor Blue Cheese (3 to 6 weeks)

Side-by-Side Comparison

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

Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Brin d'Amour Cheese at 1 to 3 months develops a different profile than Exmoor Blue Cheese at 3 to 6 weeks.

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

Brin d'Amour Cheese can stand in for Exmoor 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 soft.

Which Is Better, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Exmoor 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 soft profile, Exmoor Blue Cheese is the better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brin d'Amour Cheese is made from sheep milk; Exmoor Blue Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Brin d'Amour Cheese is typically aged 1 to 3 months, Exmoor Blue Cheese 3 to 6 weeks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Exmoor Blue Cheese made of?

Exmoor Blue Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized), using vegetarian rennet. It's typically aged 3 to 6 weeks.

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

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