Brebirousse D'Argental, An Elegant Cheese For Halloween

Brebirousse D’Argental, An Elegant Cheese For Halloween

October 27, 2023 at 3:35 pm · Filed under Cheese-Yogurt-Dairy, Halloween & Fall, Product Reviews, Thanksgiving & Fall, The Nibble

Brebirousse D’Argental, an elegant French sheep’s milk cheese, would be appealing on any cheese plate at any time of year. But in this season, we especially like that it wears the colors of Halloween and Thanksgiving.

This pasteurized cheese is from Lyon, a gourmet hub in the Rhône-Alpes region of France.

Orange on the outside, creamy and silky within, spreadable and lust-worthy, this famously orange-cloaked cheese from Lyon, France has eye-appeal.

And oh, the palate appeal! Nutty and complex, Brebirousse D’Argental (BREH-bee russe) is a crowd-pleaser.

The paste (the interior) has a grassy aroma and a subtle milky sweetness. In fact, it’s buttery, creamy, mushroomy, sweet, and tangy all at once.

Its full-flavored profile will appeal to Brie lovers and adventurous turophiles (cheese connoisseurs) alike.

When it gets riper, it becomes soft, runny, and ooey-gooey spreadable.

The name combines the French words for sheep (brebis) and red (rousse), although we won’t argue that the rind is orange.

The orange color comes from annatto seed, which is used to make a natural vegetable color.

Unlike some other orange-rind cheeses, Brebirousse D’Argental is not washed or treated with any molds that affect its color. As a result, it’s relatively mild in aroma and flavor, more like an extra-rich Brie.

That’s because sheep’s milk has a higher fat content than cow’s milk.

A bit of history: Unlike many French cheeses that are centuries hold, Brebirousse d’Argental was launched in 1985 by Fromi, a German cheese company specializing in French cheeses.

> More Halloween-appropriate cheeses.

> The history of cheese.

> The different types of cheese: a glossary.

HOW TO SERVE BREBIROUSSE D’ARGENTAL

Start with a glass of sparkling wine, still white wine, or cider.

For a red wine, serve Pinot Noir or a lighter, fruitier, lower-tannin wine.

Add crusty baguette or gourmet crackers (we like Raincoast Crisps and Rustic Bakery). Consider toasting the baguette slices.

Serve with dried apricots and Marcona almonds.

Garnish with a dollop of chestnut honey or fine fruit jam.

Make a sandwich with slices of ham (jambon de Bayonne, prosciutto, serrano) on a baguette.

TIP: If you serve a particularly ripe Brebirousse D’Argental on a plate with other cheeses, place it on a saucer in case it runs.

GET YOUR BREBIROUSSE

Head to Murray’s Cheese.

Brebirousse d'Argental, French sheep's milk cheese.
[1] Brebirousse d’Argental, creamy and luscious sheep’s milk cheese (all photos © Murray’s Cheese).