Cheese Database

Explorateur vs Saint-André

Explorateur

Facts

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

Explorateur is a soft French cheese made from cow's milk with extra cream mixed in. That cream puts it among the triple-cream cheeses, so the paste is richer than a standard bloomy round. A white rind covers a low cylinder, and the inside is ivory, smooth, and mild. The flavor is buttery, with a light mushroom note from the rind. The name recalls the Explorer satellite, which was in the news when the cheese first appeared.

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.