Kamil Perry
Babybel is a brand of small, snack-sized cheese products produced by the French company Le Groupe Bel, also known as The Bel Group. The most popular variety is the Mini Babybel, a semi-soft, Edam-style cheese made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. The Mini Babybel is also available in several other flavours, including Gouda, White Cheddar, and Mozzarella. In addition, Babybel offers a dairy-free, plant-based alternative made with coconut oil.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Edam-style |
| Ingredients | Pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, salt, microbial enzymes |
| Dietary Information | Lacto-vegetarian, lactose-free |
| Texture | Semi-soft |
| Flavour | Creamy, smooth, tangy |
| Manufacturer | Le Groupe Bel (Bel Group) |
| Place of Origin | France |
| Year Introduced | 1952 |
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What You'll Learn
Babybel is made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt
Babybel cheese is made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. It is an Edam-style cheese, originally modelled after Dutch Edam, and made using traditional Edam-making processes. The only difference is that Babybel uses rennet from vegetarian sources, rather than animal sources. The cheese is also naturally lactose-free.
The original Babybel was a 380-gram wheel, first produced in France in 1952. The Mini Babybel, for which the brand is now known, was introduced in 1977. The Mini Babybel is a snack-sized portion of the original, larger cheese. It is a small, semi-soft, European-style cheese, coated in wax. The wax is food-safe but is not recommended to be eaten. The cheese itself is 100% real cheese, with no artificial growth hormones, colours, flavours, or preservatives.
The Babybel brand is owned by Le Groupe Bel, or The Bel Group, a company with roots in the Jura region of France, started by Jules Bel in 1865. Half of the global production of Mini Babybel takes place in Évron, a commune in the northwest of France. The rest is produced in various locations in the United States, including Kentucky and South Dakota.
The Babybel brand also offers a dairy-free, plant-based alternative, made using coconut oil. This alternative is produced in a separate space, dedicated to plant-based products, to ensure no exposure to milk or other allergens.
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It is an Edam-style cheese
Babybel is a brand of small snack cheese products that are individually packaged and available in various flavours. The most popular variety, Babybel Original, is an Edam-style cheese. It is made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt, using traditional Edam-making processes. However, Babybel uses rennet from vegetarian sources, rather than animal sources, and is naturally lactose-free.
The Original flavour is creamy, smooth, tangy, and semi-soft. The cheese is known for its characteristic packaging, with small, silver dollar-sized wheels of cheese coated in coloured wax. The original Babybel, a 380-gram wheel, was first produced in France in 1952. In 1977, the first Mini Babybel was produced, which has since become identified with the brand.
In addition to snacking, Babybel's small size makes it a versatile ingredient in recipes. The wax coating should be removed before consumption. The cheese can be wrapped in pastry or biscuit dough and baked, or dipped in batter and coated in breadcrumbs before frying. Its small, flat shape also makes it ideal for stuffing chicken breasts, burger patties, or meatloaf. Babybel can also be chopped, sliced, or grated and added to pasta, vegetable salads, sandwiches, paninis, or pizza.
Babybel is produced by Le Groupe Bel, a French company with roots in the Jura region of France, started by Jules Bel in 1865. Half of the global production of Mini Babybel takes place in Évron, a commune in northwestern France. The company also has production facilities in the United States, including Kentucky and South Dakota.
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Babybel is suitable for lacto-vegetarian diets
Babybel cheese is suitable for lacto-vegetarian diets. This is because, while Babybel is made from pasteurised milk, it does not contain any animal rennet, which is often used in cheese-making. Instead, Babybel uses a microbial enzyme from vegetarian sources. The cheese is also naturally lactose-free.
Babybel is a brand of small, snack-sized cheese products that are individually packaged and available in various flavours. The most common variety is the Original flavour, an Edam-style cheese, but Babybel is also made in the style of other common firm cheeses, including Light, Sharp Original, Gouda, White Cheddar, and Mozzarella. The Original flavour is creamy, smooth, tangy, and semi-soft, and is well-known for its distinctive packaging, with each piece of cheese coated in a blend of coloured wax.
Babybel is produced by Le Groupe Bel, a French company with roots in the Jura region of France, started by Jules Bel in 1865. The original, larger version of the Babybel cheese was first produced in France in 1952, and the Mini Babybel was introduced in 1977. Today, half of the global production of Mini Babybel takes place in Évron, a commune in the northwest of France. The cheese is also produced in the United States, in factories in Kentucky and South Dakota.
In addition to being a suitable snack for lacto-vegetarians, Babybel cheese is also a versatile ingredient in various dishes. It can be chopped, sliced, or grated and added to pasta, vegetable salads, sandwiches, paninis, or pizza. Its small size and flat shape also make it ideal for stuffing into chicken breasts, burger patties, or meatloaf before cooking.
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It is coated in a soft wax
Babybel is a brand of cheese produced by a French company, Le Groupe Bel, which started in the Jura region of France in 1865. The cheese is made in several locations, including France, Kentucky, and South Dakota. The most popular variety, Mini Babybel, is a snack-sized portion of what was originally sold as a larger cheese.
Mini Babybel is coated in a soft wax, which is a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline wax. This wax is coloured and eye-catching, and it is inside a cellophane wrapper made of wood pulp, cotton, or other vegetation. The wax is not meant to be eaten and should be removed before consumption. However, it serves an important purpose in the packaging and preservation of the cheese. The wax coating helps to seal in the moisture and flavour of the cheese, ensuring that it stays fresh and tasty for longer. It acts as a protective barrier, preventing the cheese from drying out or becoming contaminated.
The wax coating also contributes to the characteristic appearance of Mini Babybel, making it instantly recognisable to consumers. The colourful wax, combined with the netted bag packaging, creates a unique and memorable visual identity for the product. This distinctive packaging not only helps consumers identify the product easily but also sets it apart from other cheese options on the market.
In addition to its functional and aesthetic purposes, the soft wax coating on Mini Babybel serves as a convenient way to portion and transport the cheese. The wax allows the cheese to be packaged individually, ensuring that each serving is hygienic and untouched. This makes Mini Babybel an ideal on-the-go snack, as it can be easily carried and consumed without the need for additional utensils or containers. The wax also helps to keep the cheese in its distinctive wheel shape, making it a neat and tidy option for snacking.
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Babybel is a brand of small snack cheese products
The original flavour of Babybel is an Edam-style cheese, made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt, and coated in wax. It is made using traditional Edam-making processes, except that the rennet is derived from vegetarian sources rather than animal sources. The original flavour is creamy, smooth, and tangy, with a semi-soft texture.
In addition to the original flavour, Babybel also offers several other varieties, including Light, Sharp Original, Gouda, White Cheddar, and Mozzarella. These varieties are made in the style of other common firm cheeses, but all feature the original flavour's semi-soft texture and characteristic tang. The Gouda version, in particular, is nuttier and sweeter than the others.
Babybel's small size makes it a convenient snack that can be easily packed in a lunchbox or backpack and enjoyed throughout the day. It can be eaten on its own or used as an ingredient in various dishes, such as stuffed chicken breasts, oversized burger patties, or meatloaf. The wax coating should be removed before eating.
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Frequently asked questions
Babybel is a brand of cheese, with the most common variety being Babybel Original, an Edam-style cheese.
Babybel Original is made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt.
Yes, Babybel Original is suitable for lacto-vegetarian diets as it does not contain rennet of animal origin.
Yes, Babybel is also available in Light, Sharp Original, Gouda, White Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Plant-Based varieties.
