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Camembert Cheese vs Mahón-Menorca Cheese
Camembert Cheese
Mahón-Menorca Cheese
In this article, we'll explore the answers to the most common questions about Camembert Cheese and Mahón-Menorca Cheese, including:
- "What is the difference between Camembert Cheese and Mahón-Menorca Cheese?"
- "Is Camembert Cheese and Mahón-Menorca Cheese the same?"
- "How does Camembert Cheese compare to Mahón-Menorca Cheese cheese?"
- "How does the taste of Camembert Cheese compare to Mahón-Menorca Cheese?"
- "Is Camembert Cheese or Mahón-Menorca Cheese better?"
Camembert Cheese Overview
Camembert is a famous French cheese with a soft, creamy interior and a bloomy rind. It's made from cow's milk and has a rich, buttery flavor with earthy undertones. True Camembert from Normandy has a slightly more intense flavor compared to other varieties and becomes runnier as it ages.
Mahón-Menorca Cheese Overview
Mahón-Menorca is a cow's milk cheese from the island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands. It has a square shape with rounded edges and is known for its orange rind and soft to hard texture depending on age. The flavor is slightly salty and tangy, with buttery notes in younger cheeses and a sharper taste in older ones.
Comparing the Two Cheeses
Country of Origin
Camembert Cheese comes from France. Mahón-Menorca Cheese originated from Spain.
Certification
Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Camembert is not a protected cheese. Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a PDO (1996), PDO (1985).
Milk Type and Treatment
Camembert Cheese is made with cow milk. Mahón-Menorca Cheese is made with cow or sheep milk that is typically raw.
Composition and Texture
Camembert's texture can be described as "soft, artisan". Mahón-Menorca's texture can be described as "firm".
Taste and Aroma
Camembert Cheese has a sweet taste. Camembert's aroma can be described as "buttery, rich". Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a salty and spicy taste. Mahón-Menorca's aroma can be described as "lactic, buttery".
Appearance and Aging
Camembert Cheese's appearance is colored pale yellow . Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a color of ivory-yellow to orangey or brownish gray , comes in parallelepiped shape and has an aging period of tender: 21-60 days, semi-cured: 2-5 months, vintage: >5 months .
Rind and Rennet Type
Camembert Cheese's rind is described as bloomy . Mahón-Menorca Cheese's rind is described as characteristic orangish , with vegetable (cynara cardunculus) rennet.
Ranking
Camembert is ranked #11 out of 996 types based on community views. Mahón-Menorca is ranked #222 out of 996 types based on community views.
Pairing Comparison
| Camembert | Mahón-Menorca | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Burgundy Red, Gamay, Grüner Veltliner, Hard Cider, Viognier | No pairings listed. |
| Other Good Pairings | Cabernet Franc, Cava, Champagne, Crackers, Fig Jam, Fruit Compote, Grapes, Kolsch, Merlot, Raspberry, Sparkling Rosé, White Burgundy | No additional pairings listed. |
For more details, check the full pairing guides on the Camembert and Mahón-Menorca pages.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Camembert Cheese | Mahón-Menorca Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | Spain |
| Specific Origin | Not Specified | Menorca, Balearic Islands |
| Certification | Not Specified | PDO (1996), PDO (1985) |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Friesian, Menorcan, Brown Alpine cow’s milk, some ewe’s milk (max 5%) |
| Milk Treatment | Not Specified | Raw or any authorized preservation technology |
| Rind | Bloomy | Characteristic orangish |
| Texture | Soft, artisan | Firm |
| Taste | Sweet | Salty and spicy |
| Aroma | Buttery, rich | Lactic, buttery |
| Colors | Pale yellow | Ivory-yellow to orangey or brownish gray |
| Forms | Not Specified | Parallelepiped shape |
| Age | Not Specified | Tender: 21-60 days, Semi-cured: 2-5 months, Vintage: >5 months |
| Rennet Type | Not Specified | Vegetable (Cynara cardunculus) |
Which One Should You Choose?
If you prefer a soft, artisan cheese, go for Camembert. But if you enjoy a firm consistency, Mahón-Menorca might be the better pick. Camembert has a sweet taste, making it great for various dishes. Meanwhile, Mahón-Menorca offers a salty and spicy profile, ideal for different meals.
