Cheese Database

Brillat-Savarin vs Saint-André

Brillat-Savarin, field guide plate
Brillat-Savarin, photographed

Brillat-Savarin

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Soft
Type
Bloomy rind
Rind
Bloomy rind
Country
France
Place
Burgundy

Brillat-Savarin is a soft cow's milk cheese from Burgundy, in France, and it belongs to the triple-cream group. Extra cream goes into the milk, so the paste is rich, pale, and almost spoonable when ripe. A white bloomy rind covers the wheel. The flavor is mild, buttery, and lightly sour, with a mushroom note near the coat. It is a board cheese and a spread, not a cheese you buy for grating.

Saint-André

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Soft
Type
Bloomy rind
Rind
Bloomy rind
Country
France

Saint-André is a soft cow's milk cheese sold as a French brand. It belongs to the triple cream group, which means extra cream is mixed into the milk before the curd is set. The small wheel has a white bloomy rind and a pale, rich interior. France is the home of the brand, and the cheese is made for the table rather than for a long keep. A ripe piece feels lush and buttery, closer to thick cream than to a firm slicing cheese.