France’s annual cheese festivals, such as Salon International de l’Agriculture and Cheese Dairy Show in Rhône-Alpes, offer a unique opportunity to explore diverse French cheeses. Visitors can sample varieties like Brie, Roquefort, and Comté, attend workshops, and enjoy cultural activities, making these festivals a must-visit for cheese enthusiasts. Cheese aficionados and gastronomy enthusiasts around the … Read more
What is the Science Behind Brie? As you may know, Brie should have a soft, almost fluffy white rind, so if it turns brown, it could indicate an issue. Before addressing the cause of this browning, let’s first explore the reason behind Brie’s white color. Interestingly, the rind is made up of mold that has … Read more
America’s Cheese Crackdown: The Tale of Banned Brie Brie is not illegal in the US, but there’s a restriction on importing Brie made from unpasteurized milk unless aged over 60 days, due to health risks. Pasteurized Brie is legal and widely available. This regulation aims to protect consumers from potential bacteria in raw milk. Is … Read more
Abbaye de Belloc Cheese: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Monastic Tradition Abbaye de Belloc cheese, made by Trappist monks using local Manech sheep milk, undergoes traditional curdling, pressing, brining, and aging. This process, alongside unique feeding practices for the sheep, contributes to the cheese’s earthy, hazelnut flavor and firm texture. Monks’ meticulous methods preserve ancient … Read more
What Causes Brie to Taste Like Blue Cheese? Brie and blue cheese are made in different ways, with different cultures and different periods of aging. So, if one tastes like the other, then you know something has gone wrong somewhere in the process! And, if brie tastes like blue cheese, and it’s not one of … Read more
Why Does Brie Smell? Brie, much like other cheeses, does have its peculiar smell. If you typically buy your cheese from the supermarket, it will perhaps be not as strong and have a buttery, earthy smell. But many people would argue that this is not true brie, as found in France. It will have been pasteurized to … Read more