Brin d'Amour Cheese vs Mimolette Cheese

Brin d'Amour Cheese is a soft to firm sheep-milk cheese from France, while Mimolette Cheese is smooth, creamy body 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 Mimolette Cheese?

Mimolette is a hard, bright orange cow's milk cheese made around Lille in northern France. It is sold at several ages, from young wheels that taste like Parmesan to extra-old ones with a hazelnut flavor and a grey, mite-worked rind.

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

• Milk type: Brin d'Amour Cheese (sheep's milk), Mimolette Cheese (Cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Brin d'Amour Cheese (raw), Mimolette Cheese (Pasteurized)
• Texture: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Soft to firm), Mimolette Cheese (Smooth, creamy body)
• Aging: Brin d'Amour Cheese (1 to 3 months), Mimolette Cheese (6 weeks to 24 months)
• Taste: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Earthy), Mimolette Cheese (Sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel)

Side-by-Side Comparison

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

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Mimolette Cheese brings sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel character. On the nose, Brin d'Amour Cheese offers herbaceous, contrasted with Mimolette Cheese's butterscotch. More specifically, Brin d'Amour Cheese shows pronounced milk flavor, intensifies with age; herb influence grows, while Mimolette Cheese leans toward mature: dense, waxy, hints of butterscotch; young: mild. Aging plays into this as well. Brin d'Amour Cheese at 1 to 3 months develops a different profile than Mimolette Cheese at 6 weeks to 24 months.

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

Brin d'Amour Cheese can stand in for Mimolette 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 smooth, creamy body. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy while Mimolette Cheese brings sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel notes.

Which Is Better, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Mimolette 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 smooth, creamy body profile, Mimolette Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese suits recipes that want earthy notes, while Mimolette Cheese fits dishes calling for sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brin d'Amour Cheese is made from sheep milk; Mimolette Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Brin d'Amour Cheese is typically aged 1 to 3 months, Mimolette Cheese 6 weeks to 24 months.

Is Brin d'Amour Cheese similar to Mimolette Cheese?

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

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

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

Does Brin d'Amour Cheese taste like Mimolette Cheese?

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Mimolette Cheese is sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel. Aromas also diverge. Brin d'Amour Cheese leans herbaceous, and Mimolette Cheese is closer to butterscotch.

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 Mimolette Cheese made of?

Mimolette Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 6 weeks to 24 months. It originates in France.

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

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brin d'Amour Cheese is soft to firm, while Mimolette Cheese is smooth, creamy body.