Brie Cheese vs Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese
Brie Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese is soft, slightly pressed paste and made from cow milk.
What Is Brie Cheese?
Brie is a soft cow's milk cheese named after the French region it comes from, pale under a white mould rind. It runs 60 to 75 percent butterfat and tastes creamy, nutty and mushroom-like, with a faint acidity. The rind is eaten along with the paste.
What Is Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese?
Mont d'Or, also known as Vacherin du Haut-Doubs, is a soft cheese made from raw cow's milk. It originates from the Haut Doubs region in France, near the Swiss border. The cheese has a slightly pressed paste and a washed rind with a downy coating. It is traditionally encircled by a strip of spruce bark and packaged in a spruce wood box. Mont d'Or has a fat content of 45% and is produced seasonally from August 15 to March
What's the Difference Between Brie Cheese and Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese?
- Milk treatment: Brie Cheese (Raw, Pasteurized), Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese (Raw)
- Texture: Brie Cheese (Soft), Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese (Soft, slightly pressed paste)
- Rind: Brie Cheese (Bloomy), Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese (Washed and given a downy coating)
- Aging: Brie Cheese (at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir), Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese (At least three months)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Brie Cheese | Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | — |
| Specific Origin | Brie | Haut Doubs, Alongside The Swiss Border, Mont D'Or Massif, Source Of The River Doubs |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw, Pasteurized | Raw |
| Texture | Soft | Soft, slightly pressed paste |
| Rind | Bloomy | Washed and given a downy coating |
| Aging | At least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir | At least three months |
| Taste | Nutty, Mushroom | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Brie Cheese Taste Like Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Brie Cheese at at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir develops a different profile than Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese at at least three months.
Can You Substitute Brie Cheese for Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese?
In most recipes, Brie Cheese and Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, slightly pressed paste.
Which Is Better, Brie Cheese or Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Brie Cheese. For a soft, slightly pressed paste profile, Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brie Cheese the same as Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Brie Cheese is typically aged at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir, Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese at least three months.
Is Brie Cheese similar to Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Brie Cheese for Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Brie Cheese taste like Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Brie Cheese made of?
Brie Cheese is made from cow milk (raw, pasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir. It originates in France.
What is Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese made of?
Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using yes rennet. It's typically aged at least three months.
Which should I choose, Brie Cheese or Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brie Cheese is soft, while Mont d'Or / Vacherin du Haut-Doubs Cheese is soft, slightly pressed paste.