Camembert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Camembert |
|
|---|---|
_11.jpg) |
|
| Country of origin | France |
| Region | Normandy |
| Town | Camembert |
| Source of milk | Cows |
| Texture | Soft-ripened |
| Aging time | At least 3 weeks |
| Named after | Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 70: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
Camembert is a soft, creamy cheese made from cow's milk. It was first created in northwestern France in a region called Normandy. This famous dairy food is known for its pale color, soft center, and edible white crust.
Contents
How Camembert Cheese Is Made
Cheesemakers start by warming cow milk. Next, they add special bacteria and an ingredient called rennet to help the milk thicken into curds.
The curds are sliced into small cubes and placed into round molds. Workers flip these molds several times so the liquid whey drains away. After two days, the fresh cheese is solid, crumbly, and shaped like a small hockey puck.
Cheesemakers spray the surface with a helpful mold called Penicillium camemberti. As the cheese rests for at least three weeks, this harmless mold grows into a soft white rind. It turns the inside into a rich, runny cream.
The Story Behind the Cheese
A French farmer named Marie Harel first crafted Camembert in 1791 in the village of Camembert. She used traditional cheesemaking methods from the Pays d'Auge area to perfect her recipe.
Later, her family shared the cheese with Emperor Napoleon III, who enjoyed it very much. During World War I, French soldiers received wheels of this cheese with their daily food rations, making it a beloved national symbol.
Clever Wooden Packaging
In 1890, an engineer invented round boxes made from light poplar wood. These sturdy wooden containers protected the fragile cheese during travel. Because of this invention, sellers safely shipped Camembert across the ocean to cheese lovers in America.
Camembert Versus Brie Cheese
Camembert looks a lot like Brie, but they have fun differences:
- Camembert comes from Normandy, while Brie comes from the Brie area.
- Traditional Camembert is made in small circles, while Brie is made in giant wheels.
- Camembert has a deeper aroma and turns runnier when warmed.
See also
In Spanish: Camembert (queso) para niños
