
Camembert is a French cheese with a mild to intense flavour and a velvety bloomy rind. It is made from pasteurised cow's milk and has a rich, buttery flavour with earthy notes. It is best served with a variety of sweet and savoury accompaniments and pairs well with a wide range of drinks.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Texture | Firm, slightly chalky, velvety, dense, hard, crumbly |
Rind | Creamy, bloomy, white, edible |
Taste | Mild, lactic, earthy, milky, sweet, buttery |
Pairing | Honey, berries, fruit preserves, cured meats, sauteed mushrooms, roasted garlic, light red wine, champagne, prosecco |
Origin | France, United States |
Milk | Pasteurised, raw |
Fat | 45% |
What You'll Learn
Texture: velvety or dense
Camembert is a French cheese that is made from pasteurised cow's milk. It is characterised by its white bloomy rind, which is made by communities of beneficial microbes, including the bacteria Penicillium candidum. The ripening process of Camembert is a delicate dance. When young, its texture is firmer and slightly chalky. As it matures, the cheese transforms into a velvety consistency surrounded by a creamy bloomy rind.
Fresh Camembert is characterised by its blandness and a hard, crumbly texture. The young version exhibits a milky, sweet taste, a smooth, runny interior and a rich, buttery flavour as it matures.
The texture of Camembert is similar to that of Brie, although Brie is milder, with a buttery, creamy flavour, while Camembert can be more intense in flavour, with deeper earthy notes. The technique used by cheesemakers for making Camembert is similar to that used for making Brie. One difference, however, is that cream is added to Brie, giving it a higher milk fat percentage and creamier texture than Camembert. Brie is 60 percent milk fat, while Camembert is 45 percent.
The texture of Camembert is lush, and it is ideal for serving on a cheese plate or charcuterie board with a wide range of sweet and savoury accompaniments. Camembert pairs well with a drizzle of honey, fresh berries, or fruit preserves, but you can also enjoy it with cured meats, sauteed mushrooms, or roasted garlic.
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Rind: bloomy or white
Camembert cheese is a French delicacy that is made from pasteurised cow's milk. It is characterised by its creamy, buttery flavour and velvety consistency. The distinctive white bloomy rind is a result of the presence of a white fungus and the slow ripening of the cheese from the outside in. This edible rind is made by communities of beneficial microbes, including the bacteria Penicillium candidum.
When young, Camembert has a firm and slightly chalky texture. As it matures, the cheese transforms into a velvety consistency surrounded by a creamy bloomy rind. The ripening process of Camembert is a delicate dance, and it is best paired with a light red wine such as Beaujolais, Chenin Blanc, St Emilion, St Estephe or traditionally a glass of Normandy cider.
The texture of Camembert is similar to that of Brie, although Camembert tends to be denser and Brie is a bit runnier. The technique used by cheesemakers for making Camembert is similar to that used for making Brie. One difference, however, is that cream is added to Brie, giving it a higher milk fat percentage and creamier texture than Camembert. Brie is 60 percent milk fat, while Camembert is 45 percent.
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Pairing: fruits or wines
Camembert is a French cheese that is made from pasteurised cow's milk. It has a soft, bloomy, edible rind and lush textures with flavours ranging from lactic to earthy. The young version of Camembert is bland and has a hard, crumbly texture. As it matures, it becomes velvety with a creamy bloomy rind.
When pairing Camembert with fruits, fresh berries or fruit preserves are a good choice. Honey is also a good pairing.
When pairing Camembert with wines, fruity and aromatic wines such as Beaujolais or Chenin Blanc are a good choice. Light red wines such as Beaujolais, Chenin Blanc, St Emilion, St Estephe or Normandy cider are also a good pairing.
Dry, carbonated beverages are also a good pairing with Camembert. Champagne, prosecco, sparkling white or rose wine are all excellent options. Fizzy gin cocktails such as a gin and tonic or French 75 are also a good pairing. For a non-alcoholic pairing, try fruity kombucha or elderflower lemonade.
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Origin: French or American
Camembert is a French cheese that is made from pasteurised cow's milk. It has a soft, bloomy, edible rind and a velvety consistency. The texture of Camembert is denser than Brie, which is a milder cheese with a buttery, creamy flavour.
The ripening process of Camembert is a delicate dance. When young, its texture is firmer and slightly chalky. With time, the cheese matures and transforms into a velvety consistency surrounded by a creamy bloomy rind.
Camembert is ideal for serving on a cheese plate or charcuterie board with a wide range of sweet and savoury accompaniments. It pairs well with a drizzle of honey, fresh berries, or fruit preserves, but you can also enjoy it with cured meats, sauteed mushrooms, or roasted garlic.
The technique used by cheesemakers for making Camembert is similar to that used for making brie. One difference, however, is that cream is added to brie, giving it a higher milk fat percentage and creamier texture than Camembert. Brie is 60 percent milk fat, while Camembert is 45 percent.
Camembert is made by culturing pasteurised milk in the United States, though French Camembert must be made with raw milk. The cheesemaker coagulates the cultured milk with rennet, forming soft yet solid curd. The curd is cut into cubes roughly half an inch in size. Next, the curd is transferred into small cylindrical molds and allowed to drain. Wheels of Camembert are then salted and ripened for about two weeks before they are wrapped in ripening paper. During this time, Camembert cheese forms its signature white skin, which is edible.
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Maturity: sweet or earthy
Camembert is a French cheese that is made from pasteurised cow's milk. It is characterised by its milky, sweet taste and smooth, runny interior. The distinctive white bloomy rind is made by the presence of a white fungus and is edible.
The ripening process of Camembert is a delicate dance. When young, its texture is firmer and slightly chalky. With time, the cheese matures and transforms into a velvety consistency surrounded by a creamy bloomy rind.
The texture of Camembert is lush and flavours range from lactic to earthy. It is ideal for serving on a cheese plate or charcuterie board with a wide range of sweet and savoury accompaniments. Camembert pairs well with a drizzle of honey, fresh berries, or fruit preserves, but you can also enjoy it with cured meats, sauteed mushrooms, or roasted garlic.
When pairing drinks with Camembert cheese, seek out dry, carbonated beverages to highlight its mild, milky flavour and offset its rich, creamy texture. Champagne, prosecco, and sparkling white or rose wine are all excellent options, as are fizzy gin cocktails like a gin and tonic or French 75. For a nonalcoholic pairing, try fruity kombucha or elderflower lemonade.
The technique used by cheesemakers for making Camembert is similar to that used for making brie. One difference, however, is that cream is added to brie, giving it a higher milk fat percentage and creamier texture than Camembert. Brie is 60 percent milk fat, while Camembert is 45 percent.
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Frequently asked questions
Camembert cheese is made from pasteurised milk and has a mild, milky flavour. It has a velvety consistency and a bloomy rind that is edible.
The texture of Camembert cheese is similar to Brie but denser. It is firm when young but transforms into a velvety consistency as it matures.
Camembert cheese is best served on a cheese plate or charcuterie board with a variety of sweet and savoury accompaniments. It pairs well with honey, fresh berries, fruit preserves, cured meats, sauteed mushrooms, or roasted garlic.