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Babybel is a brand of small, snack-sized cheese products, produced by Le Groupe Bel, a company with roots in the Jura region of France. The original Babybel cheese is an Edam-style, semi-soft cheese with a delicate, nutty flavour. It is made using traditional Edam-making processes, with the exception that Babybel uses rennet from vegetarian sources rather than animal sources. The cheese is packaged in a netted bag, with each piece encased in a blend of coloured paraffin and microcrystalline wax.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Brand | Mini Babybel |
Manufacturer | Le Groupe Bel (The Bel Group) |
Manufacturer Location | France, United States, Canada, South Dakota, Kentucky, Brookings |
Type of Cheese | Edam-style |
Ingredients | Pasteurized milk, rennet, lactic ferments, salt, microbial enzymes |
Flavors | Original, Light, White Cheddar, Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Gouda, Plant-Based |
Packaging | Red wax coating, netted bag, cellophane wrapper |
Serving Size | 1 Piece (20g) |
Nutrition | 4g of Protein, Good source of calcium |
Dietary Options | Vegetarian, Lactose-free, Vegan |
What You'll Learn
Babybel is an Edam-style cheese
The Babybel Original flavour is a semi-soft cheese with a delicate, nutty flavour. It is creamy and crunchy, making it perfect for cheese and crackers. It is also a good source of calcium and protein. Babybel is made with just four ingredients and is 100% real cheese. It does not contain the emulsifiers that are characteristic of processed cheese products like American cheese slices.
Babybel is produced by Le Groupe Bel, 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 product first hit the shelves in 1977, so Gen X through millennials have fond memories of the snack-sized cheese. The brand has nostalgia on its side, but it continues to convert new generations over to team Babybel.
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It is made using traditional Edam-making processes
Babybel is a brand of small, snack-sized cheese products that are individually packaged and available in various flavours. The original Babybel cheese is made using traditional Edam-making processes, with a few differences. Firstly, Babybel cheese is made with rennet from vegetarian sources, rather than animal sources. This makes it suitable for lacto-vegetarians. Secondly, Babybel cheese is lactose-free, whereas traditional Edam cheese is not.
The process of making Babybel cheese involves using pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. The cheese is then shaped into small, round discs and wrapped in a blend of coloured wax, inside a cellophane wrapper. This unique packaging is part of the Babybel brand and adds to the snack-like quality of the product. Each Babybel cheese wheel is a good source of protein and calcium and contains no artificial growth hormones, colours, flavours, or preservatives.
The original Babybel cheese has a mild, creamy flavour and a semi-soft texture with small holes throughout. It is often described as nutty and salty, similar to its Dutch cousin, Gouda. The cheese is perfect for snacking and pairs well with crackers, pretzels, or a party snack platter. Babybel cheese is widely available and can also be purchased online, making it a convenient and tasty snack option for consumers around the world.
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Babybel is 100% real cheese
The Babybel brand is produced by Le Groupe Bel, 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 product first hit shelves in 1977, so Gen X through millennials have fond memories of breaking open a mini Babybel cheese wheel at snack time. The brand has been able to convert new generations over to team Babybel, too.
Babybel is known for its distinctive 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. This sits inside a netted bag. The Original flavour is packaged in a red wax coating with a light blue stripe on the red cellophane.
Babybel Original is a semi-soft cheese with a delicate, nutty flavour. It is mild, creamy, and delicious, making it the perfect cheese for cheese and crackers. It pairs well with pretzels, too, for a creamy, crunchy duo. Each Babybel cheese wheel contains 4g of protein and is a good source of calcium.
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It is made with pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt
Babybel Original is a semi-soft, mild, creamy, and delicious snack cheese. It is made with just four ingredients: pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. The use of pasteurised milk gives Babybel its semi-soft texture, which is smooth and creamy with a bit of bounce. The pasteurisation process also ensures that the cheese is safe for consumption and extends its shelf life.
Pasteurisation is a heat treatment that kills harmful bacteria in milk. It is done by heating the milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time, which can vary depending on the type of pasteurisation method used. This process not only improves the safety of the milk but also helps to preserve it, preventing spoilage and extending its shelf life. There are different types of pasteurisation methods, including High-Temperature Short Time (HTST) and Ultra-Heat Treatment (UHT), which use different temperatures and durations to achieve the desired level of sterilisation.
Rennet, which can be of animal or vegetarian origin, is another crucial ingredient in the production of Babybel cheese. It plays a vital role in the coagulation of milk, causing it to separate into solid curds and liquid whey. Traditional cheese-making processes rely on rennet to achieve this transformation, and it contributes to the development of the cheese's texture and flavour. In the case of Babybel, vegetarian rennet is used, making it suitable for lacto-vegetarians.
Lactic ferments, also known as microbial enzymes, are added to the cheese to enhance its flavour and improve its texture. These ferments are produced by microorganisms and contribute to the tangy, nutty flavour characteristic of Babybel. They also aid in the ripening process, influencing the cheese's overall sensory characteristics.
Salt is the final ingredient in Babybel cheese, serving multiple purposes. Firstly, it acts as a preservative, inhibiting the growth of unwanted microorganisms and extending the cheese's shelf life. Additionally, salt contributes to flavour development, enhancing the cheese's nutty and savoury notes. It also influences the texture by affecting the moisture level within the cheese.
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Babybel is a product of Le Groupe Bel
Babybel cheese was launched in 1952, and the Mini Babybel variety was introduced in 1977. This small, red wax-covered cheese is a convenient, portable snack that can be easily peeled to reveal a creamy, semi-soft cheese with a mild flavour. It is made from pasteurized cultured milk, salt, and microbial enzymes, and contains no artificial growth hormones, colours, flavours, or preservatives. Mini Babybel is a good source of protein and calcium, making it a nutritious snack option.
Over the years, Le Groupe Bel has expanded its product range, and Babybel is now available in several varieties, including Light, Gouda, Mozzarella, White Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Plant-Based options. The company has also introduced Babybel Variety Packs, which offer a selection of different flavours in one package.
In addition to Babybel, Le Groupe Bel owns a range of other well-known cheese brands, including La Vache qui rit, Boursin, Bonbel, Kiri, and Apéricube, among others. The company has a commitment to innovation and expanding its international presence while also prioritising sustainability and contributing to healthier and more responsible food options.
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Frequently asked questions
Babybel is a semi-soft, mild, creamy, and delicious snack cheese. It is an Edam-style cheese, inspired by Edam, a cheese from the Netherlands.
Babybel is made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. It does not contain any artificial growth hormones, colours, flavours, or preservatives.
Babybel has a delicate, nutty flavour and a smooth, creamy, and slightly bouncy texture.