Brie is a type of cheese that has been around for quite a long time. Its smooth feel and slight off-white tint are unmistakable – maybe only with Camembert, but we’ll cover that later.
If you don’t know what brie cheese tastes like or haven’t had it before, this is your friendly sign to do so.
Brie has a creamy, buttery, sweet, and even spicy flavor that becomes increasingly earthy with age. It has a soft texture and an earthy scent. Some would say that it leaves a nutty and mushroomy aftertaste.
If you are interested in spicy flavors, please read our recent article about chamoy.
Let’s jump right into it and learn more about this sophisticated cheese.
What Is Brie cheese?
Brie is a soft cow’s milk cheese that originated in France but is now universally popular. It’s pale yellow with an edible and savory rind of white mold.
What’s more, Brie has a creamy texture with a unique, mild taste and aroma that’s characteristic of mold-aged cheeses.
It’s usually served with bread, crackers, or fruit. Pair it with some white wine and enjoy its exploding flavors.
This unique creamy cheese may also have some health benefits due to its dairy content and the ripening process.
Brie, which comes from the Seine-et-Marne region of northern France, is valued for its delicate flavor and has even touched the tables of royalty in the Middle Ages, thus becoming the famous cheese it is today.
This article reviews everything you need to know about how Brie cheese tastes, including its nutritional content and potential health benefits.
How is Brie cheese prepared?
Brie cheese is made from raw milk and by adding enzymes, it is transformed into curd. Afterward, yeast is used to turn it into a mold.
It should be drained of any excess water. One should wait for about 3-4 weeks for the cheese to reach its colorful aroma.
Brie vs. Camembert
Camembert and Brie have similar appearances, with pale interiors and bloomy, edible rinds which resemble fresh mushrooms.
With their ambrosial flavor, these French cheeses go perfectly with fruits, plain wafers, while French baguettes and make ideal additions to charcuterie boards.
Despite their resemblance, the content, feel, and taste of Camembert and Brie differ significantly:
1. Flavor
Camembert is more intense than Brie in terms of flavor. A sour starter is added five times throughout the cheese production process for Camembert.
Brie is made with a mild flavor thanks to the addition of a sour starter at the outset of the production process.
2. Milk fat
Brie has a higher fat percentage in milk than Camembert. Brie is made with milk that includes 60% milkfat, while Camembert reaches 45% milkfat. This is a standard proportion; Camembert and Brie’s triple-cream variants have fat milk levels above 75%.
3. Texture
Fine Brie cheese is usually softer and creamier in texture than Camembert.
Brie cheese white part taste
Brie’s delicate white rind covers and holds the cheese while adding a mild, earthy flavor. It is supposed to complement the paste with its soft and sensitive feel.
Does Brie taste sour?
It only gets sour when it is too old. Buy it from a place where it is preserved correctly; otherwise, it will turn sour.
While we’re at sour, you should read our flavors piece on how kimchi tastes.
Does Brie taste like Mozzarella?
Brie is similar to Camembert and other similar cheeses. It is, however, a little softer and creamier than Mozzarella.
The finest soft cheeses are Mozzarella and Brie. Mozzarella is commonly used as a pizza topping, but it’s also delicious in salads, sandwiches and as a light snack on its own.
It should have a milky flavor, smooth texture, and sparkle when combined with other meals. Brie is a versatile cheese that works well in a variety of situations. It has a mildly tangy flavor and a light texture ideal for snacking or mixing with other dishes.
Brie cheese in cooking
1. Brie with Honey, Dried Cherries, Rosemary, and Pecans
When you bake Brie, something magical happens. It transforms from a delicious mild cheese to a melting delicacy. It also helps when topped with honey drizzled cherries, fragrant rosemary, and crunchy pecans. This gorgeous yet straightforward appetizer, made with store-bought puff pastry, will up your dinner party game.
2. Cranberry with Baked Brie Toasts
Don’t be fooled by the dish’s simplicity; it’s delicious and remarkable. Crisp cranberries or acai berries, baked Brie, and sweet honey nicely complement creamy Brie.
This creamy and simple snack with plenty of bites is spread over crusty toast.
3. Brie Quesadillas
These fruity quesadillas are a playful twist on the South American classic.
They’re stuffed with melted Brie, juicy grapes, and scallions for a delectable vegetarian snack that’s best savored with chilled wine on a lazy afternoon. Serve at any dinner table.
Brie cheese nutrition facts
1. Carbs
There are no carbs in Brie cheese.
2. Fats
Brie cheese includes 7.8 grams of total fat per 1-ounce (28-gram) portion. 4.83 grams of saturated fat, 2.37 grams of unsaturated fats, and 0.24 grams of polyunsaturated fats make up approximately 8 grams of fat.
Saturated fats should account for about 10% of daily fat intake, with unsaturated fats accounting for the remainder.
3. Protein
Brie cheese has as much protein as goat’s milk. Brie reaches 5.8 grams of protein in a 1-ounce (28-gram) serving. Full-fat unpasteurized milk is used to make Brie. Water, protein (casein and whey), fat, sugar, and vitamins and minerals make up milk.
4. Vitamins and Minerals
Brie cheese is nutrient-dense high in calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and vitamin B-12, among other critical nutrients and vitamins.
A 1- ounce (28 gram) portion of brie cheese contains 52 milligrams of calcium or 5% of the daily required calcium intake (RDA).
5. Calories
Brie cheese has 94 calories per 1-ounce (28 gram) portion. The fat component in brie cheese accounts for the majority of the calories, with protein accounting for the balance. Brie cheese has about 75 percent fat and 25 percent protein calories.
Brie cheese nutritional benefits
Brie can be a valuable source of nutrients if consumed in moderation: protein and fat and calcium, vitamin B12, and riboflavin. It has a calorie content of 100 calories per ounce (28 grams).
Increased – subjective – sensations of satisfaction are linked to fat and protein, which may help with weight loss and hunger management.
Furthermore, full-fat dairy consumption is linked to a better physical weight and does not tend to raise the risk of heart problems.
Brie is also vital in riboflavin and vitamin B12, essential for energy generation. It contains calcium necessary for bone formation and vitamin A, supporting good skin and eyesight.
Brie also includes converted linoleic acid (CLA) due to the ripening process, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient.
What goes well with brie
Wine, beer, bread, crackers, jams, fruits, meats, and other cheeses pair well with Brie.
Brie is a flexible ingredient used in both savory and sweet dishes.
This is because most cheeses have some natural sweetness; mixing them with sugary foods like fruits or jams is a great way to bring out those aspects.
Here are some of the best flavor combos for brie cheese:
- figs + apricots + brie cheese
- brie + cranberries + pecans
- brie cheese + pear + lemon
- brie cheese + green olive + dijon mustard
- brie cheese + almonds + caramelized onions
Brie cheese may also be used to enhance various recipes. However, you should be aware that it cannot be consumed straight from the refrigerator. Brie cheese should be served at room temperature.
How to store and serve Brie cheese
The best way to store Brie cheese is in the fridge. Brie, like any other cheese, should be kept refrigerated. This cheese can be kept in the refrigerator for two months if stored properly.
Upon opening the cheese, wrap it in cheesecloth paper or wax film. This is because the entire cheese needs to breathe. Don’t wrap it in plastic wrap!
If you’re wondering where to preserve Brie for the most extended shelf lifespan, the freezer is a choice.
While most experts agree that freezing brie cheese isn’t a wise option and that the best method to store Brie is in the fridge, it’s better than throwing it away when it starts producing an ammonia smell.
Wrap the Brie firmly in aluminum foil, set it in a freezer pack, and press out as much air as possible before closing it shut. Freeze brie cheese before using it to create baked or grilled Brie.
How to serve Brie cheese
A cheese bowl is an excellent option among most people, whether you’re asking a few friends over for a relaxed, happy hour or throwing a party with a whole spread of hors d’oeuvres.
Cheese, like good wines, necessitates planning and consideration to avoid a blunder. Brie cheese and a glass of wine may become a simple staple when entertaining guests with a few ideas and attention.
Spoiled brie cheese taste
You can tell Brie has gone “bad” when it takes a yellow coloration and gets an ammonia smell. The expiry date will tell you nothing.
Since cheese ages from the outside first, towards the middle, often removing a slice from the outside will reveal still perfectly edible cheese under it.
Assuming you cut the cheese in a correct pattern, either brie wheel or wedges, there will still be that strong earthy flavor from the white rind.
Did you know
- It’s named after Brie, the historic French province where it was born. The area largely equivalent to the contemporary Seine-et-Marne département.
- It may be served at room temperature to enable all subtle notes it conveys.
- Brie de Meaux and Brie de Melun are the only two types of cheeses officially certified by the French government out of all varieties.
Wrapping Up
There are countless ways to employ Brie’s creamy, appealing flavor after learning how to eat it. Upgrade your dishes by assorting brie cheese with fruits, nuts, or jams.
Its light texture and subtle flavor make it an excellent appetizer to offer guests and create a memorable impression!
Bon appetite!