Soft Cheeses from France

Abbaye de Tamié

Made by Trappist monks in the French Alps, Abbaye de Tamié is a semi-soft cheese with a smooth, creamy texture. It has a mild, slightly tangy flavor, enhanced by a rind that is washed in brine during the aging process. The cheese is produced from the unpasteurized milk of local cows, reflecting the rich, grassy flavors of the Alpine pastures.

Banon

Banon comes from Provence, France, and is distinguished by its unique packaging—wrapped in chestnut leaves and tied with raffia. Made from goat’s milk, this soft cheese has a creamy texture and a fruity, slightly tart flavor that is enhanced by the tannins from the leaves, which also impart a subtle woody aroma.

Blue

A type of cheese injected or inoculated with Penicillium mold to create blue or green veins, resulting in a tangy, sharp flavor and creamy or crumbly texture.

Brie

Brie is a soft cheese named after the French region from which it originated. It’s famous for its creamy interior and edible white rind. Brie has a rich, buttery flavor with hints of mushrooms and almonds. It’s often served at room temperature on cheese platters or used in cooking for its ability to add depth and creaminess to recipes.

Camembert

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.

Chèvre (Goat Cheese)

Chèvre is the French word for goat, and it refers to any cheese made from goat's milk. These cheeses can vary widely in texture from soft and creamy to firm and crumbly. Chèvre flavors range from mild and smooth to tangy and bold, depending on the age and production methods.

Boursin

Boursin is a soft, creamy cheese from France, famous for its smooth texture and herb-infused flavors. It is often made with garlic and fine herbs, but other varieties might include pepper or shallot and chive. Boursin is a spreadable cheese, popular on crackers or used in cooking to add a rich, creamy element to dishes.

Brie de Meaux

Brie de Meaux is a variety of Brie that is considered one of the finest cheeses in the world, holding AOC designation. It features a more complex flavor profile than regular Brie, including a rich, creamy interior with flavors of mushrooms, almonds, and truffles. Its rind is bloomy and edible, contributing a rustic, earthy note to its taste.

Brie de Melun

Brin d'Amour

Brocciu

Brocciu is a Corsican cheese made from either sheep's or goat's milk whey, with some milk added. It is similar to ricotta but richer. Brocciu can be consumed fresh or used in various Corsican dishes, including desserts and savory pastries. It is appreciated for its light, creamy texture and mild, fresh flavor.

Chabichou du Poitou

Chabichou du Poitou is a goat's milk cheese from the Poitou-Charentes region of France. This small, cylindrical cheese has a smooth, dense texture and a bright, clear flavor with hints of nuts and a slight tanginess. It is aged for a minimum of two weeks, developing a firm outer rind that contrasts nicely with the creamy interior.

Chaource

Chaource is a soft, creamy cheese from the Champagne-Ardenne region. Made from cow's milk, it has a rich, buttery flavor with a hint of mushrooms due to its bloomy rind. Chaource is typically aged for two to four weeks and has a smooth, velvety texture that becomes even creamier as it matures.

Chevrotin

Chevrotin is an artisanal goat's milk cheese from the Alpine regions of France. It is similar to Reblochon but made exclusively from goat's milk. Chevrotin has a washed rind and a supple, creamy texture with a slightly nutty and earthy flavor, often developing a stronger taste with maturation.

Coulommiers

Coulommiers is a soft cheese from the Brie region of France, similar to Brie but smaller in size. It has a creamy texture and a mild, buttery flavor that becomes more earthy and complex as it ripens. The cheese is encased in an edible white mold rind that helps to mature the cheese from the outside in.

Époisses

Époisses is a strongly flavored, washed-rind cheese from Burgundy, made from cow's milk. It is known for its creamy texture and rich, intense flavor with hints of barnyard and bacon. The rind is washed with Marc de Bourgogne brandy during maturation, contributing to its characteristic strong smell and deep orange color. Époisses is typically eaten with crusty bread or used to add depth to sauces.

Fourme d'Ambert

Fourme d'Ambert is one of France's oldest blue cheeses, from the Auvergne region. It has a cylindrical shape with a creamy, smooth texture and a mild, fruity blue flavor. Less intense than other blue cheeses, Fourme d'Ambert is known for its delicate mushroomy and earthy notes, making it a favored choice for those new to blue cheeses.

Gaperon

Gaperon, originating from the Auvergne region, is made from cow's milk with added buttermilk and pepper. This gives it a distinctive, slightly tangy flavor with a spicy kick. It has a bulbous shape and a dry, crumbly texture. Gaperon is often enjoyed as part of a cheese platter or used to add flavor to cooked dishes.

Mont d'Or

Mont d'Or, or Vacherin Mont d'Or, is a seasonal, soft cheese made from cow's milk in the Jura region of France. Available from September to May, it has a delicate, creamy texture and a rich, earthy flavor. Mont d'Or is traditionally eaten warmed in the box it comes in, making the interior deliciously runny.

Neufchâtel

Neufchâtel is one of France’s oldest cheeses, dating back to the 6th century. Originating from Normandy, this soft, slightly crumbly cheese is made from cow's milk and is similar to Camembert but heart-shaped with a soft, velvety rind. It has a rich, slightly salty, and mushroomy flavor.

Pont-l'Évêque

Pont-l'Évêque is a French cheese from Normandy, known for its square shape and washed rind, which gives it a strong aroma. Despite its pungent smell, the cheese has a creamy, smooth texture and a rich, buttery flavor with slight tangy and sweet undertones, making it a favorite on cheese boards.

Rocamadour

Rocamadour is a small, round goat cheese from the Midi-Pyrénées region of France. It belongs to the Cabécou family of cheeses and has a creamy texture with a nutty, sweet flavor that intensifies as it ages. Rocamadour is typically eaten on its own or melted over toast or salads.

Saint-Nectaire

Saint-Nectaire is a semi-soft, washed-rind cheese from the volcanic region in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes of France. Made from cow's milk, it has a creamy, supple texture with earthy notes and hints of nuts and mushrooms. Saint-Nectaire is typically aged for at least six weeks, during which it develops a distinctive orange-pink rind.