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What are the 10 best French cheeses?

Discover the French cheeses most appreciated by gourmets, combining tradition, know-how and unique flavors that will seduce even the most demanding palates. Given that France is home to several hundred types of cheese, you'll want to discover them on your travels. Here, however, is my selection of 10 must-try cheeses.

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1 cheeses from small French producers

 

there's an infinite variety of cheeses in France because there are talented local producers who are demanding of themselves/ Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance: vvoennyy via depositphotos.

there's an infinite variety of cheeses in France because there are talented local producers who are demanding of themselves/ Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance: vvoennyy via depositphotos.

 

  • Composition:

  • often made from goat's or sheep's milk. Each producer and each region gives a different taste to the cheese. You have to test them. 
     
  • Flavors :

  • anthentic and the fruit of a long heritage of savoir faire
     
  • Why will it please? :

  • hey always have a story to tell, so ask the producer or restaurateur to tell you 

 

 

2 Camembert de Normandie  the French cheese icon 

 

 

 

Camembert / Image by Pro Video/Shutterstock

Camembert  / Image by Pro Video/Shutterstock

 

  • Composition:

  • Soft cheese with bloomy rind, made from raw milk

 

  • Saveurs :

  • Its melt-in-the-mouth texture and slightly fruity taste, with tangy notes, make it a must-try.

 

  • Why you'll like it:

  • Simple, authentic and perfect with a glass of cider or red wine, but also very good with a fruity white wine.

 

 

3 Brie de Meaux: a sweet delight

 

 

Un brie de Meaux / Image par Pro Video/Shutterstock

Un brie de Meaux / Image par Pro Video/Shutterstock

 

  • Composition:

  • Soft cheese with a bloomy rind, rich in cream and subtle hazelnut aromas.

 

  • Flavors:

  • A creamy, delicately scented interior, combining sweetness and complexity.

 

  • Why you'll like it:

  • It's a "soft" cheese. It's not strong, so it's ideal for beginners unfamiliar with French cheeses.

 

 

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4 Roquefort - The bold blue cheese

 

Du roquefort. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos.

Du roquefort. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos.

 

  • Composition:

  • Blue cheese made from Lacaûne sheep's milk, matured in natural caves.

 

  • Flavors:

  • salty and tangy, with a crumbly texture and marked blue-green veins. It's a tasty cheese!

 

  • Why you'll like it:

  • Perfect for lovers of powerful, aromatic cheeses.

 

 

4 Comté - The sophisticated ripened cheese

 

 

Cooked pressed cheese wheels. Often large and heavy, they are stored in cellars. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.fr: depositfphotos.

Cooked pressed cheese wheels. Often large and heavy, they are stored in cellars. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.fr: depositfphotos.

 

  • Composition:

  • Pressed cooked cheese made in the Jura region.

 

  • Flavors :

  • Notes of caramel, hazelnut and dried fruit develop with aging. 

 

  • Why will it please?:

  • A complex and refined taste experience. A reflection of the terroir, it's the ideal introduction to the French passion for cheese;

 

 

5 Goat's cheese: tangy and sour

 

 

Goat cheeses. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com; freeprod/depositphotos:

Goat cheeses. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com; freeprod/depositphotos:

 

  • Composition:

  • Fresh or ripened goat cheeses, often presented in the form of small crottins. There are lots of different types, often made by small local producers.
     
  • Flavors:

  • Tart and creamy taste, with a sometimes slightly grainy texture. They are often flavored with herbs (thyme, rosemary etc...)

 

  • Why you'll like it:

  • Light with taste but without a kick, it's ideal for salads, spreads or cheese platters

 

 

6 Reblochon: the warm cheese that makes gourmets melt

 

Du Reblochon. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.Com: depositphotos.

Reblochon. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.Com: depositphotos.

 

  • Composition:

  • Soft Savoy cheese, made from raw milk.

 

  • Flavors:

  • Sweet and fruity, with a melting texture, it's ideal for heating. It can be found in many winter dishes. 

 

  • Why would you like it? :

  • Perfect in mountain dishes like tartiflette, it offers an authentic gourmet richness. It goes perfectly with potatoes, bacon and white wine;

 

 

 

https://monsieur-de-france.com/en/french-cheese-taste-history

 

 

 

7 Munster: this cheese stinks, but it's so good!

 

 

Munster cheese, produced on the Vosges mountains in Alsace and in the Vosges department. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos. 

Munster cheese, produced on the Vosges mountains in Alsace and in the Vosges department. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos. 

 

  • Composition:

  • Soft cheese with a washed rind, originally from Lorraine and Alsace. It is made in the Vosges mountains. It can be refined to give it a different taste;

 

  • Flavors:

  • Powerful aroma and assertive taste, with a creamy texture.

 

  • Why you'll like it:

  • Ideal for those looking for a cheese with a strong character. It can also be heated (in tartiflette, for example). It goes very well with a good Alsace wine, white or red;

 

 

8 Maroille: Northern France has character, and so does its cheese!

 

Maroille is the cheese of the North / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: frederiquewacquier via depositphotos

Maroille is the cheese of the North / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: frederiquewacquier via depositphotos

 

  • Composition:

  • Soft cheese with a washed rind, originally from Nord-Pas-de-Calais. It is the culinary emblem at least as much as moules frites. 

 

  • Flavors :

  • Its strong, slightly tangy taste, accompanied by a creamy texture, makes it a cheese with character.

 

  • Why you'll like it:

  • Perfect for those who appreciate cheeses with strong, distinctive aromas, it offers an authentic experience. It smells strong and that's a sign of quality! Yes, it is!

 

 

Looking for a vacation in the countryside

 

 

9 Cantal - The French rustic delight

 

From Cantal / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: slowmotiongli via depositphotos

From Cantal / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: slowmotiongli via depositphotos

 

  • Composition:

  • Pressed, uncooked cheese produced in the Massif Central.

 

  • Flavors:

  • Depending on its maturation, it ranges from mild to more pronounced, with milky and nutty notes.

 

  • Why you'll like it:

  • Authentic and rustic, it reflects the French rural tradition and adapts to many dishes.

 

 

10 Pont-l’Évêque – The Creamy Normandy Classic


Pont-l'évêque / photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: By Coyau / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35682258Du

Pont-l'évêque / photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: By Coyau / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35682258

 

  • Composition:

  • Soft cheese with washed rind, typical of Normandy.

 

  • Flavors:

  • Creamy and slightly tart, with a subtle blend of sweetness and character.

 

  • Why you'll like it:

  • A perfect balance of tradition and flavor, ideal to accompany a glass of cider.
Jérôme de France

Jérôme de France

Jérôme is “Monsieur de France”, the author of this site. 
An author, he has written numerous columns and features for various media on heritage, tourism and gastronomy. Passionate about history and beautiful sites, he shares with you his tips for traveling in France and preparing your stay by knowing what you'll be able to see. A gourmet, he gives you recipes for France's great and small culinary specialties. Discover also a part of French culture. 

Jérôme de France

Jérôme de France

Jérôme is “Monsieur de France”, the author of this site. 
An author, he has written numerous columns and features for various media on heritage, tourism and gastronomy. Passionate about history and beautiful sites, he shares with you his tips for traveling in France and preparing your stay by knowing what you'll be able to see. A gourmet, he gives you recipes for France's great and small culinary specialties. Discover also a part of French culture.