Fourme de Montbrison Cheese vs Mont d'Or Cheese
Fourme de Montbrison Cheese
Mont d'Or Cheese
Fourme de Montbrison Cheese is a dry, slightly rough cow-milk cheese from France, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft and made from cow milk, originating in France.
What Is Fourme de Montbrison Cheese?
Fourme de Montbrison is a cow's milk blue cheese from the Forez mountains in southern France, sold in tall cylinders with an orange-brown rind. It is extremely mild for a blue cheese, with a dry taste, and has held its own AOC since 2002.
What Is Mont d'Or Cheese?
Mont d'Or is a seasonal soft cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of France and Switzerland, wrapped in a band of spruce that gives it its flavor. It sells from September 10 to May 10 and is usually warmed in its spruce box and eaten like fondue.
What's the Difference Between Fourme de Montbrison Cheese and Mont d'Or Cheese?
- Milk treatment: Fourme de Montbrison Cheese (Raw or Pasteurized), Mont d'Or Cheese (Raw)
- Texture: Fourme de Montbrison Cheese (Dry, slightly rough), Mont d'Or Cheese (Soft)
- Rind: Fourme de Montbrison Cheese (Fine orangey rind), Mont d'Or Cheese (Washed rind)
- Aging: Fourme de Montbrison Cheese (Minimum 28 days after renneting, longer for full maturation), Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days)
- Taste: Fourme de Montbrison Cheese (Mild, refined), Mont d'Or Cheese (Resinous, mild to pungent)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Fourme de Montbrison Cheese | Mont d'Or Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | France |
| Specific Origin | Thirty-Three Communes In The Monts Du Forez | Jura Mountains, Doubs |
| Milk Type | Cow’s milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw or Pasteurized | Raw |
| Texture | Dry, slightly rough | Soft |
| Rind | Fine orangey rind | Washed rind |
| Aging | Minimum 28 days after renneting, longer for full maturation | 21 to 60 days |
| Taste | Mild, refined | Resinous, mild to pungent |
Taste Comparison: Does Fourme de Montbrison Cheese Taste Like Mont d'Or Cheese?
Fourme de Montbrison Cheese reads as mild, refined, while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent character. More specifically, Fourme de Montbrison Cheese shows dry texture, discreetly blue-veined, marbled aspect, while Mont d'Or Cheese leans toward known for its creamy taste and powerful aroma; gets resinous flavor from spruce bark. Aging plays into this as well. Fourme de Montbrison Cheese at minimum 28 days after renneting, longer for full maturation develops a different profile than Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days.
Can You Substitute Fourme de Montbrison Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?
In most recipes, Fourme de Montbrison Cheese and Mont d'Or Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect dry, slightly rough bite and body where the recipe calls for soft. Flavor-wise, Fourme de Montbrison Cheese reads as mild, refined while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent notes.
Which Is Better, Fourme de Montbrison Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a dry, slightly rough cheese, go with Fourme de Montbrison Cheese. For a soft profile, Mont d'Or Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Fourme de Montbrison Cheese suits recipes that want mild, refined notes, while Mont d'Or Cheese fits dishes calling for resinous, mild to pungent.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fourme de Montbrison Cheese the same as Mont d'Or Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Fourme de Montbrison Cheese is typically aged minimum 28 days after renneting, longer for full maturation, Mont d'Or Cheese 21 to 60 days.
Is Fourme de Montbrison Cheese similar to Mont d'Or Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Fourme de Montbrison Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Fourme de Montbrison Cheese taste like Mont d'Or Cheese?
Fourme de Montbrison Cheese reads as mild, refined, while Mont d'Or Cheese is resinous, mild to pungent.
What is Fourme de Montbrison Cheese made of?
Fourme de Montbrison Cheese is made from cow milk (raw or pasteurized), using calf rennet. It's typically aged minimum 28 days after renneting, longer for full maturation. It originates in France.
What is Mont d'Or Cheese made of?
Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 21 to 60 days. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Fourme de Montbrison Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Fourme de Montbrison Cheese is dry, slightly rough, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft.