Brie

What is Brie?

Brie is a soft, creamy, off-white or even yellow cheese with an edible rind. It is made from cow's milk and is usually sold in small rounds. Brie is considered to be one of the world's greatest cheeses. French Brie is rich and fruity and has a creamy texture. Brie develops a natural, white mold on the exterior of the rounds.

Raw Brie

Pure Brie Cheese

 Brie in meal

Sample Brie Cheese in a meal

Textures and Background

True French Brie cannot be imported to the United States because cheeses made with raw milk must be aged at least 60 days to qualify for U.S. importation, which would make the Brie "overripe" for consumption. The cheese takes anywhere from one to three months to ripen, depending on the size of the flat discs. When properly ripened, the center of the cheese is soft and oozes as if warmed.

At room temperature, Brie becomes deliciously creamy. When warm, it positively oozes. This led many cheese lovers to begin baking Brie Cheese. Hot out of the oven, Baked Brie or Brie en Croute is a treat for any fan of cooking with cheese. Brie en Croute is French for "Brie in a Crust."

Brie texture

Brie Texture

Ingredients of Brie

To make a traditional French Brie cheese, the final goal of this cheese is to develop the proper curd to prepare the cheese surface for the beautiful white coat that makes this cheese so unique. These are the key ingredients to make the cheese:

Checklist