Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About French Cheese

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About French Cheese Megan L. What better snack to pair with your French study session than some authentic French cheese? Tutor  Nadia B.  shares everything you need to know about French cheese Do you have a baguette and a wheel of brie? Well, just a minute, there. While theres nothing more  French to us than bread and cheese, the world of French cheese is complex, fascinating, and  delicious. Keep reading, and youll learn how French cheeses are  produced, how to choose an  authentic French cheese, and about some of the most classic types of French cheese. Once youre  done reading, youll want to get to the cheese shop right away! Its an incredible reality that there are hundreds of varieties of French cheese (the exact number  depends on who youre talking to). Some of the most well-known and popular varieties include  Camembert, Roquefort, Boursin, Munster, and Chèvre. Share this Image On Your Site pstrongPlease include attribution to TakeLessons with this graphic./strong/p pa href=/blog/french-cheese-infographic-z04img src=/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/traditional-French-cheese-infographic.png alt=Traditional French Cheese width=720px border=0 //a/p p In addition to recognizing popular French  cheese, an important aspect of picking out a cheese is understanding the label. The terms Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Appelation dOrigine Contrôlée (AOC) are  essential to know. These two terms signify that a cheese is authentically produced in France. Its  a sign of quality and origin, and there are around 50 types of French cheese bearing the label.  Similar to the certifications made for wine, these labels are a guarantee of a cheeses heritage  and protection under French law. French cheeses arent  limited to just a few regions; in fact, they  come from all over France, with each  region making certain types of cheese. Some of the most popular regions for cheese include  Burgundy (central-east), Normandy (northwest), and the Alps (southeast). To narrow down your choices of French cheeses, remember that cheese can be divided into three types: hard, soft, and blue, all of which are comprised of many varieties. Cheese can also be made from three  different types of milk: cow, sheep, and goat. Lastly, you can also learn about where and how the  cheese was produced from the following descriptions: Fermier is a farmhouse cheese, which means the cheese was produced from the milk to the cheese-making all on the same farm. Artisanal means that the cheese is made from milk from the same farm, but the producer  may also supplement it with milk from other farms. Coopérative is for cheese that has been produced by a dairy in collaboration with local milk  producers. While this sounds like a small operation, it can grow into a big one and thus be more  industrially-oriented. Industriel is cheese that is made in a factory; the milk may come from a variety of places, from  local to regional to country-wide. As interesting as it is to learn about French cheese, you might now be wondering how to pick a  cheese. If youre visiting France, stop by your local fromagerie  to find a wide selection of cheeses and a deep knowledge about various aspects of cheesemaking and the cheeses themselves. Dont hesitate to ask the shopkeepers for suggestions and information about all things cheese. If youre still at home but want to try an authentic French cheese,  take some time to get to know the different types of cheese and then peruse a high-quality  grocery store or cheese shop to make a selection. You might want to pair it with a nice wine  from France, too! Lastly, if youre feeling overwhelmed by all the options when  selecting a French cheese, youre in good  company. Former French president Charles de Gaulle once said, Comment voulez-vous  gouverner un pays qui a deux cent quarante-six variétés de fromage? (How can you govern a  country which has two hundred and forty-six varieties of cheese?) France, in all its variety,  beauty, and delicacies, leaves many of us shaking our heads in disbeliefwhile still enjoying some  flavorful, rich cheese. Post Author: Nadia B. Nadia B. teaches flute, piano, and Italian lessons in New York, NY, as well as through online lessons. She received her degree in Music Performance from New York University and speaks English, Italian, and French.  Learn more about Nadia here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher