Brin d'Amour Cheese vs Tomme Cheese

Brin d'Amour Cheese is a soft to firm sheep-milk cheese from France, while Tomme Cheese is creamy, pliable and made from cow, goat, or sheep milk, originating in France and Switzerland.

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 Tomme Cheese?

Tomme is a class of cheese made mainly in the French Alps and in Switzerland from cow's, ewe's or goat's milk. Most are made from skimmed milk left over from butter making, so they are generally low in fat, and each variety is named for where it comes from.

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

• Origin: Brin d'Amour Cheese (France), Tomme Cheese (France and Switzerland)
• Milk type: Brin d'Amour Cheese (sheep's milk), Tomme Cheese (cow's, goat's or sheep's milk)
• Milk treatment: Brin d'Amour Cheese (raw), Tomme Cheese (pasteurized or unpasteurized)
• Texture: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Soft to firm), Tomme Cheese (Creamy, pliable)
• Rind: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Natural), Tomme Cheese (Grayish natural)
• Taste: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Earthy), Tomme Cheese (Varied)

Side-by-Side Comparison

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

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Tomme Cheese brings varied character. On the nose, Brin d'Amour Cheese offers herbaceous, contrasted with Tomme Cheese's milky. More specifically, Brin d'Amour Cheese shows pronounced milk flavor, intensifies with age; herb influence grows, while Tomme Cheese leans toward no common profile; wide variety depending on milk and aging.

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

Brin d'Amour Cheese can stand in for Tomme 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 creamy, pliable. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy while Tomme Cheese brings varied notes.

Which Is Better, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Tomme 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 creamy, pliable profile, Tomme Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese suits recipes that want earthy notes, while Tomme Cheese fits dishes calling for varied.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brin d'Amour Cheese originates in France, while Tomme Cheese comes from France and Switzerland. Brin d'Amour Cheese is made from sheep milk; Tomme Cheese uses cow, goat, or sheep.

Is Brin d'Amour Cheese similar to Tomme Cheese?

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

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

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

Does Brin d'Amour Cheese taste like Tomme Cheese?

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Tomme Cheese is varied. Aromas also diverge. Brin d'Amour Cheese leans herbaceous, and Tomme Cheese is closer to milky.

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 Tomme Cheese made of?

Tomme Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (pasteurized or unpasteurized). It originates in France and Switzerland.

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

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