Brie Facts for Kids

Brie is a yummy type of soft cheese. It has a soft, yellowish inside and a white, edible layer on the outside called the "rind." Like other cheeses, Brie is a dairy food. It is made from cows' milk.

You can enjoy Brie cheese in many ways. It's often served with fruit as a dessert after a meal. Sometimes, people bake it in a special dish. They might top it with nuts or fruit, making it even more delicious.

How Brie is Made
Types of Brie
Brie de Meaux
Brie de Melun
What Brie Should Look Like
Images for kids
See also

How Brie is Made

Brie is a famous French cheese. It has a special label called AOC. This label means that only cheese made in a specific region near Paris, France, can truly be called "Brie." This helps protect the cheese's quality and origin.

The milk used for soft cheeses like Brie is not heated much during production. People have been making this type of cheese for at least 1,000 years. Someone once called it the king of cheeses in the 19th century.

In Europe, Brie is usually not treated with many chemicals. This means its texture or color might change over time. It needs to be kept cool so it doesn't spoil. If you keep it in a refrigerator, it's best to let it warm up a little before eating. It tastes best when it's slightly cooler than room temperature. In most countries, Brie-style cheeses are made with pasteurized milk.

Brie can also be aged carefully for up to a year. When it's aged, it gets a darker color and a much stronger taste. This aged Brie is usually only found in France.

Types of Brie

There are several kinds of Brie cheese. Here are some of the main ones:

Brie de Meaux, from the Champagne (region) area. It has been an AOC cheese since 1986. In 1998, about 7,683 tonnes were made.
Brie de Melun, from the Île-de-France area. It has been an AOC cheese since 1980. In 1998, about 264 tonnes were produced.

Other French Bries include:

Brie fermier, from Île-de-France
Brie de Melun bleu
Brie petit moulé
Brie laitier
Brie de Coulommiers

Bries made outside of France include:

Somerset Brie, from England
Brie Manoir, from Québec, Canada
Bleubrie, also from Québec

Brie de Meaux

Brie de Meaux cheeses are made in round shapes. They are about 36 centimeters (14 inches) wide. Each cheese weighs about 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds). It tastes best from April to October. This is after it has ripened for 8 to 10 weeks. About 2% of this cheese is made on farms.

Brie de Melun

The Brie de Melun is smaller than Brie de Meaux. However, it has more salt added to it. Its ripening period is 10 weeks. It is best to eat it from April to September. You might find it from March to November in some places. About 5% of this cheese is made on farms.