Andy Montoya
Babybel is a brand of small, snack-sized, individually packaged cheeses produced by Le Groupe Bel, a company with roots in the Jura region of France. The original Mini Babybel is an Edam-style cheese made from pasteurized milk, salt, microbial enzymes, and other ingredients. While Babybel is typically associated with its original variety, the brand offers other flavors, including a Swiss flavor, which is also lactose-free.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Flavour | Swiss |
| Type of Cheese | Edam-style |
| Ingredients | Pasteurized milk, Salt, Calcium chloride, Bacterial culture, Natural flavour, Microbial enzyme |
| Package | Netted bag, each piece of cheese is encased in a blend of colored paraffin and microcrystalline wax, inside of a cellophane wrapper |
| Place of Production | Évron, France; Kentucky, USA; Brookings, South Dakota, USA; Quebec, Canada |
| Brand | Mini Babybel |
| Company | Le Groupe Bel (The Bel Group) |
| Nutrition | 4g of Protein, good source of calcium |
| Other | Lactose-free, 100% real cheese, no artificial growth hormones, artificial colors, flavours or preservatives |
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What You'll Learn
Babybel Original is an Edam-style cheese
The Original variety is the most popular of the Mini Babybel cheeses. It is known for its unique packaging, with each small, snack-sized cheese wheel encased in wax and packaged in a netted bag. This presentation makes it convenient for on-the-go snacking and has contributed to its popularity.
Babybel Original is crafted using traditional Edam-making processes, with a few modern adaptations. Notably, the cheese uses vegetarian rennet instead of animal-based rennet, making it suitable for vegetarians. This also contributes to its mild, creamy flavour and naturally lactose-free quality.
As an Edam-style cheese, Babybel Original has a semi-hard texture and a pale yellow colour. It is aged for several weeks to develop its characteristic flavour and texture. The cheese is then packaged and distributed worldwide, offering consumers a convenient and tasty snack option.
While Babybel Original is the classic variety, the brand has also introduced other flavours, including a Swiss flavour. This variety is also lactose-free and made with similar ingredients, including pasteurised milk, salt, and microbial enzymes, but with added natural Swiss flavouring.
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Babybel is made from pasteurised milk
Babybel cheese is a product of Le Groupe Bel, a company with roots in the Jura region of France, started by Jules Bel in 1865. The original Mini Babybel is an Edam-style cheese made from pasteurised milk, vegetarian rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. It is made using traditional Edam-making processes, with one exception: the rennet is sourced from vegetables rather than animals. This makes the cheese naturally lactose-free.
Babybel is a popular snack cheese, often enjoyed with crackers or pretzels. The cheese is known for its distinctive packaging, with each piece encased in a blend of coloured paraffin and microcrystalline wax and packaged in a netted bag. This packaging design has become iconic for the brand.
The use of pasteurised milk in Babybel cheese is an important aspect of its production. Pasteurisation is a process that involves heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time to kill harmful bacteria. This process helps to improve the safety and shelf life of the milk and any products made from it, such as cheese.
The pasteurisation process was developed by French chemist Louis Pasteur in the 19th century. He discovered that heating wine and beer could kill the bacteria that caused spoilage, and he later applied this process to milk. Pasteurisation has since become a standard practice in the dairy industry, improving the safety and quality of milk and dairy products worldwide.
In the case of Babybel cheese, the use of pasteurised milk contributes to its mild, creamy texture and flavour. It also ensures that the cheese is safe for consumption and has a longer shelf life compared to cheeses made with unpasteurised milk. This makes Babybel a convenient and reliable snack option for consumers.
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Babybel is available in different flavours
Babybel is a brand of small, snack-sized, individually packaged cheese products. It is produced by Le Groupe Bel, a company with roots in the Jura region of France, started by Jules Bel in 1865. The original flavour of Babybel is an Edam-style cheese made from pasteurised milk, vegetarian rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. It is also naturally lactose-free.
- Original: This is the most popular flavour of Babybel. It is an Edam-style cheese made with pasteurised milk, salt, and microbial enzymes, giving it a mild and slightly salty taste.
- Swiss: Babybel Swiss flavour is lactose-free, made with pasteurised milk, salt, calcium chloride, bacterial culture, and natural flavouring. It offers a unique taste that is reminiscent of Swiss cheese.
- Cheddar: The Babybel Cheddar variety comes in a black wrapper and is a sharp white cheddar cheese. It offers a distinct flavour that differs from the traditional orange cheddar cheese commonly associated with the variety.
- Goat's Cheese: Some people have reported that Babybel once offered a goat's cheese variety packaged in a green wrapper. However, it is unclear if this flavour is still available.
- Mozzarella: Babybel also offers a mozzarella flavour, providing a soft and creamy texture with a mild taste.
These flavours showcase the brand's innovation and commitment to providing diverse options for consumers who enjoy the convenience and portability of Babybel cheese. The variety of flavours ensures that consumers can find a Babybel cheese that suits their taste preferences, whether they prefer the traditional Edam-style, the sharpness of cheddar, the tang of goat's cheese, or the mildness of mozzarella.
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Babybel is packaged in wax and a netted bag
Babybel is a brand of small snack cheese products that are individually packaged and available in various flavours. The original flavour is an Edam-style cheese, made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. It is made using traditional Edam-making processes, but with a key difference: the rennet comes from vegetarian sources, rather than animal sources. This means that the cheese is naturally lactose-free.
Babybel is known for its distinctive packaging, which consists of small wheels of cheese dipped in colourful wax. Each piece of cheese is encased in a blend of coloured paraffin and microcrystalline wax, inside a cellophane wrapper made of wood pulp, cotton, or other vegetation. The wax is used to protect the cheese from airborne bacteria, mould growth, and drying while it ages. It also gives the cheese a shiny, appealing coating. In addition, the wax is soft and pliable, which prevents it from cracking easily.
The Babybel packaging is completed by a netted bag, which holds the individually wrapped pieces of cheese. The netting and wax combination is so iconic that it has been described as providing an "unparalleled unwrapping experience". This unique packaging has become synonymous with the Babybel brand, and has no doubt contributed to its success.
In addition to the original flavour, Babybel is also available in other varieties, including Light, Sharp Original, Gouda, White Cheddar, and Mozzarella. The brand also offers a plant-based, dairy-free cheese alternative and a Swiss flavour. The Swiss flavour is also lactose-free, and is available in nets of 6 pieces.
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Babybel is produced by Le Groupe Bel
In the United States, Le Groupe Bel produces Mini Babybel in Kentucky and South Dakota. In March 2016, Bel Brands USA opened a new plant in Brookings, South Dakota. At the time, Bel Brands projected that its 250 employees would produce 1.5 million Mini Babybel cheese wheels per day. The company also has production sites in Leitchfield, Kentucky, and Little Chute, Wisconsin, with a production capacity of 10,000 metric tons of Mini Babybel per year.
The success of Le Groupe Bel's business model stems from an in-depth understanding of the markets where the company is present. The brand knows how to adapt to lifestyles and satisfy the demand for healthy snacks in fast-growing markets. In 2013, Mini Babybel volumes increased by 7% in France and 6% in Europe. The company's core brands in the United States include The Laughing Cow, Mini Babybel, and Boursin. Le Groupe Bel's international growth strategy is centred around these five core brands, with the addition of Kiri and Leerdammer.
In 2018, Le Groupe Bel announced that the company had 12,700 employees in 30 subsidiaries around the world and that their first Canadian production facility would be in Quebec. The company also launched a plant-based version of Babybel in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom in 2022.
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Frequently asked questions
Babybel cheese has a Swiss flavour variant, but it is a brand of small snack cheese products that originated in the Jura region of France.
The original flavour is made from pasteurised milk, vegetarian rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. The Swiss flavour is made from pasteurised milk, salt, calcium chloride, bacterial culture, natural flavour, and microbial enzymes.
Yes, Babybel cheese is known for its individual packaging. Each piece of cheese is encased in a blend of coloured paraffin and microcrystalline wax, inside a cellophane wrapper made of wood pulp, cotton, or other vegetation.
Babybel cheese is a good source of calcium and has 4g of protein. It contains no artificial growth hormones, artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives.
Yes, Babybel cheese is suitable for vegetarians as it is made with vegetarian rennet instead of animal rennet.
