Cheese Codexery

Brie

A soft cow's-milk cheese from the Brie region of France, with a pale interior and white mould rind.

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Brie is a soft cow's-milk cheese that originated in the French region of Brie, whose name comes from the Gaulish word for "hill"[1] A white mold rind, which people often eat, covers Brie's pale surface that sometimes shows a faint greyish tint.[2] Although Brie and Camembert are alike, Brie comes from a different part of France and its butterfat content usually ranges from 60% to 75%.[2]

Key facts and history

Brie de Meaux has been manufactured in the town of Meaux in northern France since the 8th century and was known as the "Queen's cheese"[3] Brie should be kept in a tightly sealed container to avoid contact with moisture and food-spoilage bacteria.[4] Only two Brie varieties receive official certification from the French government: Brie de Meaux and Brie de Melun.[5] Brie de Meaux is a round, unpasteurized cheese weighing roughly 2.8 kg and measuring 36 to 37 cm across.[3]

With an average diameter of 27 cm and weight of 1.5 kg, Brie de Melun is smaller than Brie de Meaux.[6] Produced in wheel form, Brie is considered ready for consumption once its exterior feels firm and its interior has a slight springiness.[7] The same microorganisms that ripen Brie can later generate an unpleasant excess of ammonia when the cheese becomes overripe.[8] Because Brie is a soft cheese, improper storage allows bacteria and molds to multiply quickly.[9]

What the cited sources add

The foodstruct.com comparison states that brie has a milder flavor with buttery, creamy notes, while camembert has a more intense flavor with deeper earthy notes.[10] Brie contains 300 calories per 100g, whereas camembert contains 334 calories per 100g.[10] Brie contains 27.68g of fat per 100g, while camembert provides 24.26g.[10] Brie has more vitamin B12, E, B1, and monounsaturated fat than camembert.[10]

Brie contains more iron and less sodium than camembert.[10] The Eat By Date source notes that soft cheeses like brie should not be kept at room temperature for extended periods as the cheese will quickly degrade.[11] The mold rinds that encase brie are often edible, and brie displays more of its natural flavor at room temperature.[11]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Brie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Brie (n.)", Online Etymology Dictionary (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Brie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Brie Vs. Triple Cream: What are We Even Talking About?, at phcheese.com; Brie vs Camembert - In-Depth Nutrition Comparison, at foodstruct.com (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Brie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Layton, "The cheese handbook: a guide to the world's best cheeses, over 250 varieties described, with recipes", Dover Publications, 1973 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Brie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "How Long Does Soft Cheese Last? Shelf Life, Storage, Expiry", Eat By Date (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Brie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Johnson, "The New Irish Table: 70 Contemporary Recipes", Chronicle Books, 2003, p. 17; Levy, "Footprint Ireland", Footprint, 2005 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Brie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Dixon, "Dairy Foods Consulting & Westminster Artisan Cheesemaking" (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Brie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Androuët, "Le brie : histoire et légende fabrication et gastronomie", Presses Du Village, 1997; Benêt, "Histoire du fromage de Langres", Broché, 2005 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Brie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: McGee, "On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen", Simon & Schuster, 2004 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Brie" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Cheeses by texture – Cheese.com", cheese.com (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Brie vs Camembert - In-Depth Nutrition Comparison, at foodstruct.com. facts only, no text reused. foodstruct.com
  11. "How Long Does Soft Cheese Last? Shelf Life, Storage, Expiry", Eat By Date. facts only, no text reused. eatbydate.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Brie (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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