Camembert

Camembert is a soft, aged cheese that goes well with crusty breads, fruits, and cappuccino.

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This soft, aged cheese is made in small flat wheels that are similar to Brie in appearance; it has a slightly bitter, delicate, salty flavor and a soft, edible rind. The historic cheeses of Camembert are documented in 18th-century French records and literature. Today, Camembert-type cheese is manufactured worldwide.

Traditional Camembert is made in Normandy from fresh, raw cows’ milk. A three-day process initiates the cheese preparation, during which the milk is ladled into molds, rennet and distinctive bacteria are added, and the cheese mixture is salted. Penicillium camemberti or Penicillium candidium are the bacteria that produce the characteristic edible and velvety white or light gray mold of the rind. The cheese is aged for a little more than two weeks, and is then ready for market. The ingredients and methods of production are regulated by French government standards.

Varieties

Although “Camembert” is not a trademark, the Camembert de Normandie version is, like a wine variety, a name-protected by the French government; the individual cheeses are marked with an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) insignia. Camembert-type cheeses made in the United States have a slightly different flavor as they must by law use pasteurized milk.

Buying and storing tips

The softer the cheese, the more perishable it is. Ripe Camembert, carefully refrigerated, keeps for just a few days. Due to concerns about Listeria bacteria, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that unpasteurized, soft, aged cheeses should not be eaten by children, older people, or those with compromised immune systems.

Availability

Camembert is widely available in health food stores, specialty stores, and markets.

Preparation, uses, and tips

Camembert goes well with a variety of foods, especially fresh fruits like sweet berries or grapes, warm crusty bread, cappuccino, red wines, and apple cider. It makes and enjoyable treat when baked in a pastry crust.

Nutritional Highlights

Camembert, 1 wedge (1.33 oz.) (37.6g)
Calories: 114
Protein: 7.5g
Carbohydrate: 0.17g
Total Fat: 9.2g
Fiber: 0.0g
*Good source of: Calcium (147mg)

*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily Value.

The information presented in this website is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications.