Brin d'Amour Cheese vs Saint-Nectaire Cheese

Brin d'Amour Cheese is a soft to firm sheep-milk cheese from France, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese is soft and tender 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 Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Saint-Nectaire is a pressed cow's milk cheese from the volcanic hills around the Monts-Dore in Auvergne, France. It ages on rye straw for at least 28 days and is known for its soft, creamy paste and hint of hazelnut.

What's the Difference Between Brin d'Amour Cheese and Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

• Milk type: Brin d'Amour Cheese (sheep's milk), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Cow’s milk (Holstein, Montbéliarde, sometimes Salers))
• Milk treatment: Brin d'Amour Cheese (raw), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Raw for fermier, pasteurized for laitier)
• Texture: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Soft to firm), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Soft and tender)
• Rind: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Natural), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Washed-rind)
• Aging: Brin d'Amour Cheese (1 to 3 months), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (At least twenty-eight days)
• Taste: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Earthy), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Delicate hazelnut)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Brin d'Amour Cheese Taste Like Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese brings delicate hazelnut character. On the nose, Brin d'Amour Cheese offers herbaceous, contrasted with Saint-Nectaire Cheese's grassy. More specifically, Brin d'Amour Cheese shows pronounced milk flavor, intensifies with age; herb influence grows, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese leans toward nutty. Aging plays into this as well. Brin d'Amour Cheese at 1 to 3 months develops a different profile than Saint-Nectaire Cheese at at least twenty-eight days.

Can You Substitute Brin d'Amour Cheese for Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Brin d'Amour Cheese can stand in for Saint-Nectaire 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 and tender. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy while Saint-Nectaire Cheese brings delicate hazelnut notes.

Which Is Better, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Saint-Nectaire 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 and tender profile, Saint-Nectaire Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese suits recipes that want earthy notes, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese fits dishes calling for delicate hazelnut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brin d'Amour Cheese the same as Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brin d'Amour Cheese is made from sheep milk; Saint-Nectaire Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Brin d'Amour Cheese is typically aged 1 to 3 months, Saint-Nectaire Cheese at least twenty-eight days.

Is Brin d'Amour Cheese similar to Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Brin d'Amour Cheese for Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

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

Does Brin d'Amour Cheese taste like Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese is delicate hazelnut. Aromas also diverge. Brin d'Amour Cheese leans herbaceous, and Saint-Nectaire Cheese is closer to grassy.

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 Saint-Nectaire Cheese made of?

Saint-Nectaire Cheese is made from cow milk (raw for fermier, pasteurized for laitier). It's typically aged at least twenty-eight days. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brin d'Amour Cheese is soft to firm, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese is soft and tender.