Exploring French Cheese: A Guide for Beginners

Exploring French cheese in Paris offers a delightful culinary adventure for first-time visitors.

### Exploring French Cheese: A Beginner's Guide to Fromageries in Paris
* 🧀 Welcome to the channel, where we delve into the delightful world of French cheese, **perfect for first-time visitors to Paris**.
* 🇫🇷 France boasts nearly **1,000 types of cheese**, far exceeding the famous quote by Charles de Gaulle about **246 varieties**, showcasing the country's rich cheese-making heritage.
* 🛒 When visiting a fromagerie, consider your cheese preferences—whether you enjoy **strong or soft cheeses**, and from which type of milk you prefer: **goat, cow, or sheep**.
* 🤝 Don't hesitate to ask for recommendations from the friendly staff at fromageries, using phrases like "**Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez?**" to discover new favorites.
* 🥖 Among the must-try cheeses are '**Brie de Meaux**,' known for its creaminess; '**Chaource**,' with its soft texture and hints of mushrooms; and '**Comté**,' which varies in flavor depending on its aging.
* 🏔 For a firmer option, try '**Beaufort**' from the French Alps, or '**Tomme de Savoie**,' a low-fat cheese with a nutty flavor that's enjoyable for all palates.
* 🐐 Don't miss 'Valençay,' a **pyramid-shaped goat cheese** from the Berry region, which pairs beautifully with salads and can be purchased **by weight**.
* 🛒 While grocery stores offer pre-packaged cheese, the artisan experience of a fromagerie provides a **unique taste of French culture** that is **well worth the visit**.

Hello everyone, welcome to my channel. I'm really glad you're here. Today, I would like to give a brief introduction to French cheese for those who are experiencing Paris for the first time or trying cheese for the first time in Paris. It would be great if you knew about French cheese and how to buy cheese at a fromagerie in Paris. Don't worry if you don't know where to start; I will share some tips with you. I will also tell you the names of some of the most popular French cheeses that you might want to try. Are you ready to explore the world of French cheese? Let's go! Charles de Gaulle is famous for saying about France, Who can govern a country that has 246 kinds of cheese? I don't know where he got that specific number from.

246 is a significant underestimate. In reality, there are nearly 1,000 types of cheese in France, which is about four times the general estimate. France is famous for having some of the most beautiful cheeses in the world, ranging from soft and creamy cheeses to sharp and complex varieties. Each region of France has its unique cheese-making heritage, reflecting the diverse landscapes and terroirs from Normandy to the Alps. Therefore, when choosing cheese, it is generally a good idea to consider what types of cheese you like or what you would like to try. First, think about your preferences, such as strong cheeses or soft cheeses. Do you prefer hard cheese or soft cheese? Once again, do you want cheese made from goat's milk, cow's milk, or sheep's milk?

You may want to surprise yourself by boldly trying various types of cheese that you haven't tasted before. Fromageries can be a bit overwhelming. These cheese shops are stocked with a wide variety of French cheeses, and often Parisians are lined up waiting. Don't be intimidated. If there is a line, just wait your turn or approach a staff member. It's not always the case, but usually, they are very friendly and helpful. It would be easiest if you just tell them the name of the cheese you want. As I mentioned earlier, I will provide a list of amazing and popular French cheeses in the latter part of the video. Alternatively, you can trust the expert in front of you and ask them to recommend a good cheese. Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez? (Do you have any recommendations?) would be the correct phrase. If you're unsure about which cheese to choose, don't hesitate to ask for samples to see if you like them.

Can I taste this one? is a good expression to use. Alternatively, it is often suggested to offer a small piece to try. If you want to taste several different cheeses, you can buy just small portions of each cheese. You can request Un petit morceau, s'il vous plaît (a small piece, please) or 100g, s'il vous plaît (100g, please) to ask for less than 100g. Now, are you thinking that eating cheese might be too much trouble? To help you out, let me share a few names of cheeses you must try in Paris (or France). If you like soft cheese, one of the most delicious creamy cheeses is 'Brie de Meaux.' If you enjoy cheese, you have probably tried Brie cheese. Brie de Meaux is a Brie cheese from the Brie region of France, and its name comes from the town of Meaux in the Brie region.

The real Brie de Meaux is so creamy that it doesn't hold its shape well. Therefore, you should choose from the pre-packaged pieces. And once you open it, I strongly recommend finishing it to the end. Well, it’s really good, so you might as well finish it all in one sitting. Chaource is a French cheese that originates from the village of Chaource in the Champagne-Ardenne region. It is a soft cheese with a soft rind made from whole milk. It can be recognized by its fluffy white rind. Chaource almost melts in your mouth. It has a slightly salty taste with hints of cream and fresh mushrooms. By the way, did you know that cheeses and wines from the same region pair really well together? This is because they share the same environment and climate. Since Chaource is a cheese from the Champagne region, it pairs well with Champagne. Another soft French cheese I would recommend is Saint-Marcellin.

It is derived from milk named after the small village of Saint-Marcellin in the Rhône-Alpes region. Weighing about 80 grams, it is small in size, with a wrinkled cream-colored white exterior. It has a soft taste with hints of honey, making it truly delightful. You must try it. Comté is perhaps one of the most popular hard cheeses enjoyed worldwide. Comté aged for 9 months is definitely milder than those aged for 18 or 30 months. Therefore, you can request samples of each before making a choice. Young Comté is not sticky; it is slightly sweet and subtle. Everyone loves it. You can make croque monsieur with finely chopped young Comté. Check out my croque monsieur video. The flavor of aged Comté is intense and characterized by a variety of aromas. In old Comté, you can distinguish the white grains, which are amino acid crystals, giving the cheese a crunchy texture.

There is Beaufort, which is the firm cheese I have chosen. Beaufort is a hard raw milk cheese that belongs to the Gruyère cheese family from the Savoie region of the French Alps. Its flavor is somewhat similar to Gruyère cheese, but in my opinion, it is smoother and more complex. You will definitely want to try it. Tomme is a cheese produced primarily in the French Alps and Switzerland. The most famous variety of Tomme is Tomme de Savoie. Tomme is generally made from skim milk left over after cream is removed to produce butter and rich cheese. As a result, Tomme is a low-fat cheese. It is not a soft cheese, but rather a medium-firm cheese with a nutty flavor. Tomme gives a fresh and smooth impression on the palate. Even if you do not like strong-tasting cheeses, you will enjoy it. Valençay is from the Berry region in central France.

This is cheese made from goat's milk in the region. Its shape is characterized by a cut pyramid form. Valençay is a non-pasteurized goat cheese that weighs about 200 to 250 grams. If you don't want to buy the whole Valençay, you can simply request half. It has a low moisture content and a grainy, crumbly texture. Therefore, it is good to eat on its own or to accompany salads. If you're afraid of entering a fromagerie, you can actually go to a grocery store, or supermarché, to buy pre-packaged cheese. While it's fine in reality, it is not artisan cheese like what you would find at a fromagerie. The cheese sold in grocery stores is definitely milder. However, if you enjoy a soft flavor, going to the supermarket to buy cheese is also a good option. Parisians also buy cheese from grocery stores.

However, the problem with mass-produced cheese is that even if you want to buy a small amount, you have to purchase the whole pack. So, it might be better to go to a fromagerie instead. Additionally, it's a unique experience that you can't find elsewhere. It's very French. But you might want to buy fromage blanc at the supermarket. As I showed in my video on 12 Must-Try Foods in Paris, it's a food you must try in Paris. Once again, fromage blanc is a soft and creamy cheese made from whole or skim milk and cream. It has a semi-liquid texture, similar to cream, and is smooth. It is different from fromage frais like Petit Suisse. Petit Suisse is a type of fromage frais, which is an unaged, unsalted, soft, and creamy cheese that has a texture similar to very thick yogurt.

It is packaged in a cylindrical shape, about 4 cm high and 3 cm in diameter. This is also a type of cheese that can be purchased at grocery stores. It is generally kept in the refrigerator section of the dairy aisle. Great! It seems like a variety of cheese that is perfect for a trip to Paris. Well, as I mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to dare to try different cheeses while in Paris. Honestly, I can’t imagine a better place on Earth to explore the world of cheese. I hope you enjoy all the cheeses you are curious about in Paris. To be honest, there are so many great French cheeses that I couldn’t include in this video that I would like to recommend about 10 or 20 more. I am sure there will be more opportunities to introduce them in the future. So, I will stop here for today. I hope to see you again next week. If you enjoyed this video, I would really appreciate it if you could give it a thumbs up.

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How to buy cheese in Paris + 8 cheeses to try in Paris

Madame LeVoyage

French cheese is diverse, with nearly 1,000 types available, far exceeding the common estimate.

Each region of France has its unique cheese-making heritage, offering a wide range of flavors and textures.

When buying cheese at a fromagerie in Paris, don't be intimidated by the lines; the staff is usually friendly and helpful, and asking for recommendations or samples is a great way to choose.

Asking "Can I taste this one?" is a good way to sample cheese, and requesting a small portion is also common.

Brie de Meaux, Chaource, and Saint-Marcellin are must-try soft cheeses in France.

These cheeses pair well with wines from the same region, making for a perfect combination.

Saint-Marcellin is a small, creamy cheese with a wrinkled exterior and a soft, honey-like taste.

Comté, a popular hard cheese, varies in flavor with aging, offering mildness in the 9-month variety and intensity in the older ones.

Beaufort, a firm raw milk cheese, and Tomme, a low-fat medium-firm cheese, both offer unique flavors and textures, making them worth trying.

Valençay Goat Cheese and Cheese Shopping in Paris

Valençay is a non-pasteurized goat cheese with a cut pyramid shape, weighing 200 to 250 grams, and has a low moisture content with a grainy, crumbly texture.

While pre-packaged cheese from grocery stores offers a milder flavor, it lacks the artisan quality of fromagerie cheese.

Fromage blanc, a soft and creamy cheese, and Petit Suisse, an unaged and unsalted cheese, are also popular options to try in Paris.

Exploring Cheese: A Perfect Parisian Adventure

The cheese is packaged in a cylindrical shape, 4 cm high and 3 cm in diameter, and is commonly found in the grocery store's refrigerator section.

Paris is presented as the ideal place to explore a variety of cheeses, with a promise of more recommendations in the future.

The speaker encourages viewers to enjoy their cheese journey in Paris and invites them to subscribe for more weekly videos.