Camembert Cheese

Camembert cheese is a soft-ripened cow's milk cheese with a thin white bloomy rind and a creamy, pale interior. It ripens from firm to oozy at room temperature, with buttery, earthy, mushroom-like aromas; it spreads easily and melts smoothly for baking or sauces, and is commonly sold as small wheels in paper or wooden boxes. Traditional versions use animal rennet, so it may not suit vegetarians.

Originating in Normandy, France, it became widely produced across Europe and beyond, while AOC Camembert de Normandie remains raw-milk and ladled by hand. Modern producers use both pasteurized and raw milk, shaping small wheels and aging them briefly to develop the bloomy rind.