Brin d'Amour Cheese vs Monte Enebro Cheese
Brin d'Amour Cheese is a soft to firm sheep-milk cheese from France, while Monte Enebro Cheese is smooth, dense and made from goat milk, originating in Spain.
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 Monte Enebro Cheese?
Monte Enebro is an artisanal goat cheese from Avila, Spain, created by cheesemaker Rafael Baez and his daughter Paloma. It has a distinctive ash-covered rind with a creamy, slightly acidic interior that features strong, tangy blue mold flavors developing towards the center of the cheese. Monte Enebro is highly regarded for its complex flavor profile and creamy texture.
What's the Difference Between Brin d'Amour Cheese and Monte Enebro Cheese?
- Origin: Brin d'Amour Cheese (France), Monte Enebro Cheese (Spain)
- Milk type: Brin d'Amour Cheese (sheep's milk), Monte Enebro Cheese (goat's milk)
- Milk treatment: Brin d'Amour Cheese (pasteurized), Monte Enebro Cheese (unpasteurized)
- Texture: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Soft to firm), Monte Enebro Cheese (Smooth, dense)
- Rind: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Natural), Monte Enebro Cheese (Charcoal-colored)
- Aging: Brin d'Amour Cheese (1 to 3 months), Monte Enebro Cheese (Matured for 30 days after spraying with Penicillium roqueforti)
- Taste: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Earthy), Monte Enebro Cheese (Bold, goaty, tang, pleasing spice)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Brin d'Amour Cheese | Monte Enebro Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | Spain |
| Specific Origin | Corsica, France | Avila, Southwest Of Madrid |
| Milk Type | Sheep's milk | Goat's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized | Unpasteurized |
| Texture | Soft to firm | Smooth, dense |
| Rind | Natural | Charcoal-colored |
| Aging | 1 to 3 months | Matured for 30 days after spraying with Penicillium roqueforti |
| Taste | Earthy | Bold, goaty, tang, pleasing spice |
Taste Comparison: Does Brin d'Amour Cheese Taste Like Monte Enebro Cheese?
Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Monte Enebro Cheese brings bold, goaty, tang, pleasing spice character. On the nose, Brin d'Amour Cheese offers herbaceous, contrasted with Monte Enebro Cheese's bold, goaty. More specifically, Brin d'Amour Cheese shows pronounced milk flavor, intensifies with age; herb influence grows, while Monte Enebro Cheese leans toward bold goaty aroma, distinct tang, and pleasing spice notes imparted by the penicillium roqueforti rind. Aging plays into this as well. Brin d'Amour Cheese at 1 to 3 months develops a different profile than Monte Enebro Cheese at matured for 30 days after spraying with penicillium roqueforti.
Can You Substitute Brin d'Amour Cheese for Monte Enebro Cheese?
Brin d'Amour Cheese can stand in for Monte Enebro 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, dense. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy while Monte Enebro Cheese brings bold, goaty, tang, pleasing spice notes.
Which Is Better, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Monte Enebro 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, dense profile, Monte Enebro Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese suits recipes that want earthy notes, while Monte Enebro Cheese fits dishes calling for bold, goaty, tang, pleasing spice.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brin d'Amour Cheese the same as Monte Enebro Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Brin d'Amour Cheese originates in France, while Monte Enebro Cheese comes from Spain. Brin d'Amour Cheese is made from sheep milk; Monte Enebro Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Brin d'Amour Cheese is typically aged 1 to 3 months, Monte Enebro Cheese matured for 30 days after spraying with penicillium roqueforti.
Is Brin d'Amour Cheese similar to Monte Enebro Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Brin d'Amour Cheese for Monte Enebro Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Brin d'Amour Cheese taste like Monte Enebro Cheese?
Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Monte Enebro Cheese is bold, goaty, tang, pleasing spice. Aromas also diverge. Brin d'Amour Cheese leans herbaceous, and Monte Enebro Cheese is closer to bold, goaty.
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 Monte Enebro Cheese made of?
Monte Enebro Cheese is made from goat milk (unpasteurized). It's typically aged matured for 30 days after spraying with penicillium roqueforti. It originates in Spain.
Which should I choose, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Monte Enebro Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brin d'Amour Cheese is soft to firm, while Monte Enebro Cheese is smooth, dense.