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.
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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.
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Flavors :
- anthentic and the fruit of a long heritage of savoir faire
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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
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Composition:
- Soft cheese with bloomy rind, made from raw milk
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Saveurs :
- Its melt-in-the-mouth texture and slightly fruity taste, with tangy notes, make it a must-try.
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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
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Composition:
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Soft cheese with a bloomy rind, rich in cream and subtle hazelnut aromas.
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Flavors:
- A creamy, delicately scented interior, combining sweetness and complexity.
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Why you'll like it:
- It's a "soft" cheese. It's not strong, so it's ideal for beginners unfamiliar with French cheeses.
4 Roquefort - The bold blue cheese
Du roquefort. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos.
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Composition:
- Blue cheese made from Lacaûne sheep's milk, matured in natural caves.
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Flavors:
- salty and tangy, with a crumbly texture and marked blue-green veins. It's a tasty cheese!
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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.
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Composition:
- Pressed cooked cheese made in the Jura region.
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Flavors :
- Notes of caramel, hazelnut and dried fruit develop with aging.
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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:
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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.
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Flavors:
- Tart and creamy taste, with a sometimes slightly grainy texture. They are often flavored with herbs (thyme, rosemary etc...)
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Why you'll like it:
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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
Reblochon. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.Com: depositphotos.
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Composition:
- Soft Savoy cheese, made from raw milk.
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Flavors:
- Sweet and fruity, with a melting texture, it's ideal for heating. It can be found in many winter dishes.
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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;
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.
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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;
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Flavors:
- Powerful aroma and assertive taste, with a creamy texture.
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Why you'll like it:
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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
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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.
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Flavors :
- Its strong, slightly tangy taste, accompanied by a creamy texture, makes it a cheese with character.
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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!
9 Cantal - The French rustic delight
From Cantal / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: slowmotiongli via depositphotos
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Composition:
- Pressed, uncooked cheese produced in the Massif Central.
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Flavors:
- Depending on its maturation, it ranges from mild to more pronounced, with milky and nutty notes.
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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=35682258
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Composition:
- Soft cheese with washed rind, typical of Normandy.
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Flavors:
- Creamy and slightly tart, with a subtle blend of sweetness and character.
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Why you'll like it:
- A perfect balance of tradition and flavor, ideal to accompany a glass of cider.