I recently
bought a large round of Brie Cheese and in the past I have eaten it with the
rind and without. This time I decided to consult the experts and here’s their opinion:
Many people wonder how to eat Brie cheese. Brie is a soft cows'
milk cheese that is named after the province in France in which it originated.
It is made by adding rennet to raw milk, heating it to 98.6 degrees and then
casting into molds, where it is drained for about 20 hours. After this process
is complete, it is removed from the mold, salted and injected with cheese mold.
Brie is then aged for five or six weeks.
Brie Flavors
Brie cheese is mild and slightly sweet in flavor. If aged for
several months to a year, the flavor becomes stronger. If over-ripened, the
cheese takes on flavors of ammonia.
There are flavored versions of Brie cheese including herbed Brie
and Brie made with different types of milk.
Any of these variations affect the flavor and character of the cheese.
How to Eat Brie Cheese
Brie cheese has a soft, almost molten core and a harder outer
rind that is made of the cheese molds. People wondering how to eat Brie cheese
often wonder if the outer, grayish hard rind needs to be removed prior to
eating. This rind is meant to be eaten, and adds to the flavor and character of
the Brie.
The Basics of Eating Brie
Cheese
1. Store
Brie cheese tightly wrapped in the refrigerator.
2. Prior
to eating, remove the Brie cheese from the refrigerator and allow it to warm to
room temperature.
3. Slice
the Brie into bite sized pieces.
4. Serve
the brie with a crusty bread or a plainly-flavored cracker.
5. Brie
pairs well with light colored fruits, such as pears or grapes.
6. Classic
wine pairings with Brie include acidic, herbaceous, dry whites like Pinot Gris
(Pinot Grigio) or Sauvignon Blanc. White wines made in the methode champenoise
(Champagne, Cava, sparkling whites) also pair well with Brie cheese.
Beyond The Basics
When considering how to eat Brie cheese, you might want to try
something more than just the basic preparations of Brie. Baked Brie cheeses
are soft, warm, melty and delicious. You can bake Brie alone, or wrapped in
puff pastry (Brie en Croute).
