What Does Camembert Taste Like? Does Camembert Taste Good?
Authentic Camembert cheese comes from Normandy and is characterized by its bloomy rind. The traditional preparation calls for three to four weeks of cow’s milk.
The art of making it dates back to the 11th century.
In this article, you will know the answer to the query “What Does Camembert Taste Like?“.
Camembert pairs well with fruits like pear and apple, nuts like almonds and walnuts, and some meats like ham and prosciutto di Parma.
It is my goal to answer all your questions about how Camembert tastes here in this blog post.
What is Camembert Cheese?
Cheese from Normandy called Camembert is composed of cow’s milk and is unpasteurized.
The edible rind has an appearance similar to a rough ash coating.
There is also a touch of mushroom and fruit in addition to the creamy butterfat taste of this cheese.
It was developed around 1790-1815 by Marie Harel, a dairywoman from Camembert-sur-Mer, northwest France.
She was commissioned by King Louis XV, who wanted various cheeses for his court.
In order to make Camembert, you add milk to a mixture of cow’s and goat’s milk before it becomes curdled or clotted, then you add rennet so the other liquids can be drained off.
Rounds of cheese with an indentation on top hold about three tablespoons of cream per round, measuring 10.2 cm (4 inches) in diameter.
Penicillium Camembert causes the cheese to mature for two weeks at room temperature before it is stored at 12°C-14°F until it is ready to eat.
Is Camembert Cheese Good for You?
In addition to being a soft, creamy, and pungent cheese, Camembert can be used to make appetizers and dishes.
The health benefits of this particular type of cheese are still a subject of controversy, despite its popularity.
The main concern regarding Camembert is that it contains high levels of saturated fats, which could cause cardiovascular diseases if consumed regularly.
Camembert cheese has quite a few calories as well, so it’s not an ideal choice for those looking to lose weight.
Camembert can be beneficial and nutritious when eaten moderately according to the other side of the debate.
As a dairy product, cheese is rich in vitamin A, which is good for the skin and immunity.
Calcium is also found in it, which helps with bone health, muscle movement, maintaining nerve function, and strengthening teeth.
Moderate consumption of Camembert is important because it has both positive and negative attributes.
How Expensive is Camembert?
Traditionally, Camembert cheese is made from raw milk that is soft-ripened and unpressed.
It is often considered one of the finest cheeses to eat out of hand, as well as having aphrodisiac properties.
In addition to basic Camembert, you can find more expensive varieties that can cost up to $150 per wheel
Depending on where you reside in the world, the price will vary per pound.
In France, it ranges from $18 to $90 per kilo which equates to .46 to .88 cents USD per ounce, although some stores have even sold it for .30* per ounce in their markets.
In America, the average cost per pound varies between $12 and $28, so the price per pound can vary significantly.
Buying Camembert imported from countries like Switzerland or Italy will raise your prices.
It will depend on several factors, such as where you live in France, shipping costs, and import taxes.
The most important aspect is whether there is enough milk in the area to produce cheese like Camembert.
Why is Camembert Illegal in the USA?
Using unpasteurized milk to make Camembert makes it illegal to sell it in the US.
In the early days of Camembert cheese production, sanitation and refrigeration problems caused by World War I made it illegal.
In addition to these restrictions for selling Camembert, another problem prevents it from being imported into the United States: FDA regulations prohibit unpasteurized dairy products from entering the country due to safety concerns like Listeria contamination.
It is legal to import pasteurized Camemberts and sell them at stores such as Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, but people don’t like the taste because of pasteurization, which kills bacteria that might cause foodborne illness.
Therefore, if you want to taste the real Camembert, you will have to save up for an overseas trip.
What Does Camembert Cheese Taste Like? Does Camembert Cheese Taste Good?
I have the answer you have been looking for. The fresh or pasteurized milk used to make Camembert cheese is traditionally goat, sheep, or buffalo milk.
This approach has a variety of benefits, including making the cheese less perishable than other raw-milk cheeses like mozzarella and ricotta because it is acidic enough to discourage bacteria from growing.
Its taste is intensely nutty and buttery, with a hint of earthiness and mushroom undertones.
Also, its texture is soft and creamy, but not too runny or drippy.
It’s like eating curds and whey when you bite into this delightfully pungent cheese. The velvety-soft surface provides just enough resistance before jiggly bits of tangy goodness peek out from within.
There are different types of milk, and their characteristics depend on how long they have been aged.
Fresh Camembert has an off-white interior and a yellow rind, while aged Camembert has a white outside and an ivory interior.
Camembert that has been aged is even more buttery and nutty than Camembert that has been fresh.
Those of you who love cheese will want to add this cheese to your collection.
This cheese boasts many delicious traits that make it well worth the high price tag it carries in stores.
When purchased from a family farmer or artisanal producer, the experience is worth any splurge in price.
How Do You Eat Camembert Cheese? Can You Eat Camembert Raw?
As with most soft cheeses, Camembert can be eaten at room temperature or warmed slightly.
A typical Camembert dish includes wine, chives, and blackberries with a dish called Camembert au forage (literally “chamber of the oven”).
If you eat Camembert cheese the traditional way, you cut it into thin slices and serve it with baguette, but you can also serve it in other ways.
Croque Monsieur, a popular dish from soft cheeses, is a sandwich of breaded ham and cheese that has been fried in butter or oil and is sometimes garnished with bechamel sauce, chopped parsley, or grated nutmeg.
The dish can be served as an open-faced sandwich (without crust), covered in Mornay sauce, baked atop rice pudding or pasta, or served for breakfast with bacon bits.
You can certainly eat Camembert cheese raw, but it’s not recommended since it’s not recommended to eat any other cheese raw.
When raw Camembert cheese (without mold) is served, it is typically spread on bread or served with grapes and nuts.
The cheese must always be refrigerated as it will only last a month without spoiling if it’s kept at a cool temperature.
Conclusion on What Does Camembert Taste Like?
In conclusion, Camembert cheese is a soft, creamy cheese whose flavor is slightly tangy.
It is a specialized taste that not everyone will appreciate, and eating Camembert is an acquired taste.
If you are a fan of cheese with intense flavors, such as Roquefort or Gorgonzola, this cheese may be more pleasing to your palate.
Instead, you may prefer to stick to something more traditional, such as cheddar cheese or American cheese slices.Tocheese-less
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