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The Daily Insight

What are the different types of French cheese?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published Apr 09, 2026

What are the different types of French cheese?

France provides us with a thousand different cheese varieties, including soft cheeses (Camembert, Coulommiers, Munster), blue-veined cheeses (Roquefort, Bleu d’Auvergne), pressed cooked cheeses (Gruyere, Comté, Parmesan), 45 controlled designations of origin cheeses and 38 protected designations of origin cheeses.

What are the 8 French cheese categories?

The seven French cheese types

  • White mould cheeses. Brie de Meaux, Camembert de Normandie.
  • Washed rind cheeses. Époisses, Livarot, Munster (or Munster Géromé), Maroilles, Pont-l’Évêque.
  • Uncooked semi-hard cheeses. Tomme, Morbier, Raclette.
  • Hard Cheeses. Beaufort, Comté.
  • Blue Cheeses.
  • Goat’s milk cheeses.
  • Ewe’s milk cheeses.

What are the three categories of French cheese?

There are 3 types, Brie de Meaux, Brie de Melun, and Brie de Provins, named after those towns in the area. (If you are wondering, the texture of Brie de Melun is a bit firmer, but they do all taste similar.)

Which is the best type of French cheese?

Protected designation of origin Cheese Year designated AOC Producing region Type of milk Designation Abondance 1990 Haute-Savoie Cow AOC Banon 2003 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Goat AOC Beaufort 1968 Savoie Cow AOC Bleu d’Auvergne 1975 Auvergne Cow AOC

Are there any cheeses that are protected in France?

A few French cheeses are protected under the European Union’s Protected Geographic Indication designation (PGI). Many familiar generic types, like Boursin, are not covered, while others originally from other countries, such as Emmental cheese, may have certain varieties protected as a French cheese. This list differs from those of AOC status.

What kind of cheese is made from cow’s milk?

Chaumes is a French soft or semi-soft cheese made from cow’s milk. Its rind is washed, and its color is pale yellow. The cheese has a strong aroma, a supple, creamy, springy, and smooth texture, and a complex, nutty flavor.

What kind of cheese is the king of France?

Made from raw cow’s milk, the cheese was declared to be the “King of cheeses” in 1815 by French politician, Talleyrand. For recipe ideas, check out the Brie Fondant au pesto. Buy Brie de Franc e here. 2. Camembert de Normandie As you may have guessed, this cheese is from Normandy, and specifically the village of Camembert, around the 18th century.

What kind of cheeses do they eat in France?

1. Soft French cheeses 2. Semi-soft French cheeses 3. Hard French cheeses 4. Semi-Hard French Cheeses 5. Stinky French Cheeses and Bleu Cheeses 6. Goat cheeses (chêvres) 7. Fresh or Young Cheeses What’s Next?

Which is the best semi soft cheese in France?

Semi-soft French cheeses 1 Port Salut. Via Port Salut, one of several semi-soft cheeses from the pays de la Loire, is a cow’s milk cheese with a bright orange rind and mild flavor. 2 Pont-L’Évêque. Via Pont-L’Évêque is a renowned and very old cheese from Normandy. 3 Morbier.

Chaumes is a French soft or semi-soft cheese made from cow’s milk. Its rind is washed, and its color is pale yellow. The cheese has a strong aroma, a supple, creamy, springy, and smooth texture, and a complex, nutty flavor.

What kind of cheese is Brie de Meaux?

There are 2 types, Brie de Meaux and Brie de Melun, named after 2 towns in the area. (If you are wondering, the texture of Brie de Melun is a bit firmer, but they do both taste similar.)