Buying Brie at the Supermarket: You’re Often in for a Disappointment

We already knew that one supermarket Brie isn’t the same as another. It’s not for nothing that we tested which one is the tastiest (and nastiest!). But among all those deliciously disgusting cheeses, is there also any real Brie—and when is Brie actually the real deal?

That’s what Keuringsdienst van Waarde investigated in detail. As you may know, Brie is a soft French bloomy-rind cheese made from cow’s milk. Brie originally comes from the Île-de-France region (whose capital is Paris). For the French, there are two types of Brie that matter most: Brie de Meaux and Brie de Melun.

Real or fake

Cheeses that only carry the name ‘Brie’ don’t count—they lack an AOC certification, which (in this case) cheese only receives if it meets certain extremely strict rules, such as the amount of cow’s milk that must be used (23 liters) and how long the cheese has been allowed to mature. For Brie de Meaux, for example, that’s 6 to 8 weeks, which is why it’s so deliciously creamy.

Let it brie

Unlike these recognized varieties, Brie sold on supermarket shelves doesn’t have to meet these rules. Cheesemakers are free to give their cheese the name Brie, regardless of where the milk comes from or how long the maturation period is. What’s more, these cheeses are often produced in a factory rather than by an artisanal French cheesemaker.

So if, as a cheese lover, you’d rather have the real deal on your cheese or drinks platter, look for Brie de Meaux and Brie de Melun. If you don’t care that much, don’t worry; a white wedge from the supermarket also does an incredibly good job at any drinks gathering.

Source & image: Keuringsdienst van Waarde

Also read:

• How to make the most delicious tear-and-share bread with Brie, pesto, bacon and red onion
• You’ll want this: Brie from the barbecue
• Cheesy heaven: how to make baked Brie in the oven