Brin d'Amour Cheese vs Swaledale Cheese
Brin d'Amour Cheese
Swaledale Cheese
Brin d'Amour Cheese is a soft to firm sheep-milk cheese from France, while Swaledale Cheese is moist, medium firm and made from cow, goat, or sheep milk, originating in England.
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 Swaledale Cheese?
Swaledale is a full fat hard cheese from Richmond in Swaledale, North Yorkshire, made with unpasteurised cow, sheep or goat milk. It is known for its moist medium firm texture and a rind of grey-blue mould or natural wax.
What's the Difference Between Brin d'Amour Cheese and Swaledale Cheese?
- Origin: Brin d'Amour Cheese (France), Swaledale Cheese (England)
- Milk type: Brin d'Amour Cheese (sheep's milk), Swaledale Cheese (cow, sheep, goat)
- Texture: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Soft to firm), Swaledale Cheese (moist, medium firm)
- Rind: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Natural), Swaledale Cheese (grey-blue mould or natural wax)
- Aging: Brin d'Amour Cheese (1 to 3 months), Swaledale Cheese (3 to 4 weeks)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Brin d'Amour Cheese | Swaledale Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | England |
| Specific Origin | Corsica, France | Swaledale, North Yorkshire |
| Milk Type | Sheep's milk | Cow, sheep, goat |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Raw |
| Texture | Soft to firm | Moist, medium firm |
| Rind | Natural | Grey-blue mould or natural wax |
| Aging | 1 to 3 months | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Taste | Earthy | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Brin d'Amour Cheese Taste Like Swaledale Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. More specifically, Brin d'Amour Cheese shows pronounced milk flavor, intensifies with age; herb influence grows, while Swaledale Cheese leans toward fresh and bracken-like, with a sweet caramel undertone from ewes' milk. Aging plays into this as well. Brin d'Amour Cheese at 1 to 3 months develops a different profile than Swaledale Cheese at 3 to 4 weeks.
Can You Substitute Brin d'Amour Cheese for Swaledale Cheese?
Brin d'Amour Cheese can stand in for Swaledale 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 moist, medium firm.
Which Is Better, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Swaledale 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 moist, medium firm profile, Swaledale Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brin d'Amour Cheese the same as Swaledale Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Brin d'Amour Cheese originates in France, while Swaledale Cheese comes from England. Brin d'Amour Cheese is made from sheep milk; Swaledale Cheese uses cow, goat, or sheep. Aging also differs: Brin d'Amour Cheese is typically aged 1 to 3 months, Swaledale Cheese 3 to 4 weeks.
Is Brin d'Amour Cheese similar to Swaledale Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Brin d'Amour Cheese for Swaledale Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Brin d'Amour Cheese taste like Swaledale 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 (raw). It's typically aged 1 to 3 months. It originates in France.
What is Swaledale Cheese made of?
Swaledale Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (raw), using rennet added after culturing rennet. It's typically aged 3 to 4 weeks. It originates in England.
Which should I choose, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Swaledale Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brin d'Amour Cheese is soft to firm, while Swaledale Cheese is moist, medium firm.