Brin d'Amour Cheese vs Jarlsberg Cheese

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

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 Jarlsberg Cheese?

Jarlsberg is a mild Swiss-type cheese from Norway, made from cow's milk and named after Jarlsberg Manor. It is known for its buttery, slightly sweet and nutty flavor and its medium to large holes.

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

• Origin: Brin d'Amour Cheese (France), Jarlsberg Cheese (Norway)
• Milk type: Brin d'Amour Cheese (sheep's milk), Jarlsberg Cheese (cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Brin d'Amour Cheese (raw), Jarlsberg Cheese (pasteurized)
• Texture: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Soft to firm), Jarlsberg Cheese (Semihard)
• Rind: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Natural), Jarlsberg Cheese (Plastic-covered)
• Aging: Brin d'Amour Cheese (1 to 3 months), Jarlsberg Cheese (Three months to twelve months)
• Taste: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Earthy), Jarlsberg Cheese (Mild, sweet, nutty)

Side-by-Side Comparison

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

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Jarlsberg Cheese brings mild, sweet, nutty character. On the nose, Brin d'Amour Cheese offers herbaceous, contrasted with Jarlsberg Cheese's mild, buttery. More specifically, Brin d'Amour Cheese shows pronounced milk flavor, intensifies with age; herb influence grows, while Jarlsberg Cheese leans toward known for its mild, sweet, and nutty flavor and large eyes.. Aging plays into this as well. Brin d'Amour Cheese at 1 to 3 months develops a different profile than Jarlsberg Cheese at three months to twelve months.

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

Brin d'Amour Cheese can stand in for Jarlsberg 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 semihard. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy while Jarlsberg Cheese brings mild, sweet, nutty notes.

Which Is Better, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Jarlsberg 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 semihard profile, Jarlsberg Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese suits recipes that want earthy notes, while Jarlsberg Cheese fits dishes calling for mild, sweet, nutty.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brin d'Amour Cheese originates in France, while Jarlsberg Cheese comes from Norway. Brin d'Amour Cheese is made from sheep milk; Jarlsberg Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Brin d'Amour Cheese is typically aged 1 to 3 months, Jarlsberg Cheese three months to twelve months.

Is Brin d'Amour Cheese similar to Jarlsberg Cheese?

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

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

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

Does Brin d'Amour Cheese taste like Jarlsberg Cheese?

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Jarlsberg Cheese is mild, sweet, nutty. Aromas also diverge. Brin d'Amour Cheese leans herbaceous, and Jarlsberg Cheese is closer to mild, buttery.

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 Jarlsberg Cheese made of?

Jarlsberg Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged three months to twelve months. It originates in Norway.

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

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