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Babybel is a French brand of cheese that has been around since 1952, with its miniature wax-wrapped discs first hitting the shelves in 1977. The cheese is 100% real, semi-soft cheese, with a delicate, nutty flavour. It is made with just four ingredients: pasteurized milk, salt, and microbial enzymes. Babybel is inspired by Edam, a cheese from the Netherlands, and is produced in the same traditional manner, except it is free of animal rennet.
What You'll Learn
Babybel is a type of Edam cheese
The Mini Babybel is a small, semi-soft, and mildly flavoured cheese. Each piece is encased in a blend of coloured wax, inside a cellophane wrapper made of wood pulp, cotton, or other vegetation. The wax is not meant to be eaten, but it is not harmful if consumed. The cheese itself is made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. It is known for its distinctive red wax coating, although other colours have been used for different flavours and markets.
Babybel is a convenient, portable snack that can be enjoyed straight from the fridge. It is also suitable for pairing with crackers, pretzels, or a party snack platter. The product is targeted towards both children and adults, with its playful, fun image and its small size making it ideal for lunchboxes.
The brand has expanded its range to include other varieties of cheese, such as gouda, mozzarella, and white cheddar, as well as plant-based cheese alternatives. However, the original Babybel remains the most popular variety.
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Babybel is made by Le Groupe Bel
Le Groupe Bel produces the Mini Babybel cheeses in Kentucky, US, and in Évron, a commune in the northwest of France, where half of the global production of Mini Babybel takes place. The company also has a plant in Brookings, South Dakota, and its first Canadian production facility is located in Quebec.
Babybel is a brand of small, individually packaged snack cheese products. The original Babybel is an Edam-style cheese, made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. It is made using traditional Edam-making processes, with rennet from vegetarian sources, and is naturally lactose-free.
Babybel cheese is known for its distinctive packaging, with each piece encased in a blend of coloured wax, inside a cellophane wrapper made of wood pulp, cotton, or other vegetation. The wax helps protect the cheese, prevent unwanted mould, and makes it easy to transport.
In addition to the original variety, Babybel also offers other flavours, including Light, Gouda, Mozzarella, White Cheddar, and Monterey Jack. They have also expanded into plant-based cheese alternatives, providing vegan options that are dairy-free and lactose-intolerant-friendly.
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Babybel is packaged in wax
The wax serves a practical purpose, protecting the cheese from unwanted mould and providing a means of transport before plastic was invented. It also adds to the playful nature of the snack, providing something for consumers to play with after they have eaten the cheese.
Babybel's use of wax is a nod to the traditional packaging of Edam cheese, of which Babybel is a variety. Edam is a semi-hard Dutch cheese, often wrapped in wax. Babybel's use of wax packaging is a stylish and functional choice, protecting the cheese and adding to its appeal as a snack.
The wax coating is not intended to be eaten, although consuming it is unlikely to cause any serious digestive issues. Babybel recommends against eating the wax, but it is not harmful if accidentally ingested. The wax helps protect the cheese from spoilage, but it does not replace refrigeration. Babybel should be kept refrigerated at all times and should be consumed within two to four hours if taken on the go.
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Babybel comes in a variety of flavours
The Light flavour is a good source of calcium and contains 4g of protein. The White Cheddar variety is also available in a plant-based option, which is dairy-free and made with a blend of coconut oil and starch. The plant-based variety is wrapped in green wax, while the dairy-based Babybel is wrapped in the signature red wax.
Babybel is a brand of small, snack cheese products that are individually packaged and available in various flavours. The product is made by Le Groupe Bel, a company with roots in the Jura region of France. The cheese is packaged in a netted bag, with each piece encased in a blend of coloured paraffin and microcrystalline wax. This wax coating is not meant to be eaten, although it is not harmful if consumed.
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Babybel is suitable for vegetarians
Babybel is a brand of small, individually packaged snack cheese products from Le Groupe Bel, a company with roots in the Jura region of France. The Original flavour Babybel is made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. It is a semi-soft cheese, and is mild, creamy, and delicious. It is suitable for vegetarians because it is made using rennet from vegetarian sources.
The Original flavour Babybel is the most popular variety of Babybel cheese. It is individually packaged and wrapped in the brand's signature red wax coating. The cheese is a good source of calcium and contains 4g of protein. It has no artificial growth hormones, artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives.
In addition to the Original flavour, Babybel offers a variety of other flavours, including Light, Gouda, Mozzarella, White Cheddar, and Monterey Jack. The brand has also expanded into plant-based cheese alternatives, which are dairy-free and suitable for vegan diets. These plant-based options are wrapped in green wax instead of the signature red wax.
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Frequently asked questions
Babybel is a brand of small, individually packaged snack cheese products. The original flavour is a mild, creamy, semi-soft cheese in the style of "Edam".
The original Babybel cheese is made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt.
Yes, Babybel cheese will melt if brought to the right temperature.
Yes, Babybel should be refrigerated at all times. When on the go, the cheese has about two to four hours before it should be refrigerated again.
Babybel wax is not recommended to be eaten. However, consuming it is unlikely to cause any serious digestive issues.