Brie de Meaux: The King of Cheeses — History, How It's Made and How to Eat It

Brie de Meaux — the king of cheeses and arguably the most famous soft cheese in the world — has one of the most extraordinary stories in the entire history of French food. This episode of Fabulously Delicious tells the full story of Brie de Meaux, from Charlemagne ordering cartloads of it in 774 to the Congress of Vienna in 1815 where Talleyrand staged a tasting of 52 European cheeses and Brie de Meaux was crowned the greatest of them all. Raw cow's milk, a soft white rind, a straw-yellow custardy interior with notes of hazelnut, almond and mushroom — and a history that spans more than a thousand years. The episode covers the full history of this remarkable AOC and PDO protected cheese — from the monks of the Abbaye Notre-Dame-de-Jouarre in the Seine-et-Marne who first produced it, to King Philippe-Auguste sending 200 wheels to his courtiers as New Year gifts in 1217, to Louis XVI stopping to finish a plate of Brie and a glass of red wine while fleeing the French Revolution. And there is one gloriously aristocratic detail that tells you everything about this cheese — there is exactly one farmhouse producer of Brie de Meaux making it from their own herd today. That producer is the Rothschild family. The second half of the episode covers everything you need to know about buying and enjoying Brie de Meaux — how it is made, including the extraordinary hand-moulding process using the traditional pelle à brie that cannot be replicated by machine, the two-month production time from fresh milk to finished wheel, the best season to buy it, how to store it, what wines to pair it with, and why you should always eat the rind. This is French cheese history, French cheese culture and practical French cheese guidance all in one episode. Brie de Meaux is one of the great cheeses of France and this episode is the story it deserves. Whether you are a devoted fromage enthusiast or simply curious about why one soft cheese from a small region east of Paris became the most celebrated in the world, this episode will change how you think about it. Search Fabulously Delicious on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for more French food stories every week. Fabulously Delicious — where we explore the food, culture, history, and travel experiences that make France one of the most delicious countries in the world. If you love French cuisine, Paris food culture, hidden bakeries, markets, wine bars, and regional specialties, you’re in the right place. 🎧 You can also listen to Fabulously Delicious: The French Food Podcast on all major podcast platforms. Explore Paris Through Food If you're planning a trip to Paris — or simply dreaming about one — my book Paris: A Fabulous Food Guide to the World’s Most Delicious City is your ultimate food lover’s companion. Inside you'll discover hand-picked recommendations for the best: 🥐 Boulangeries 🍰 Pâtisseries 🍷 Wine bars ☕ Cafés 🍽️ Restaurants 🧀 Specialty food shops All personally curated to help you experience the true flavours of Paris. 📖 Order your copy here: https://www.andrewpriorfabulously.com... Cook With Me in France Want to go beyond tasting French food and actually learn to cook it in France? Join me in Montmorillon, in the beautiful Vienne region, for one of my Vienne Residency Cooking Experiences. These immersive stays combine: ✨ Hands-on French cooking classes 🧺 Visits to local markets 🍷 Regional food tastings 🏡 A private stay in a charming French townhouse 🇫🇷 A true taste of life in rural France It’s the perfect experience for food lovers who want to live the French lifestyle for a few days. Learn more here: https://www.andrewpriorfabulously.com... Stay Connected 👍 Like the video 💬 Leave a comment 🔔 Subscribe for more French food, travel, and culture Join the Fabulously Delicious Newsletter If you enjoy exploring French food, culture, travel, and culinary history, you can go even deeper by joining my Fabulously Delicious newsletter on Substack. Subscribers receive extra content including: 🇫🇷 Stories about French food and culinary traditions 🍰 Recipes inspired by France 🧀 Food discoveries from Paris and across France 🍷 Behind-the-scenes insights from the podcast 📍 Travel tips for delicious places to eat and explore It’s the perfect place for anyone who loves French cuisine and the culture that surrounds it. You can subscribe here: https://substack.com/@fabulouslydelic... Every subscription helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating content celebrating French food, chefs, and culinary culture. Merci beaucoup for being part of the Fabulously Delicious community. 🇫🇷✨ #FrenchFood #FrenchCuisine #Podcast #FoodPodcast #HistoryPodcast #CulinaryHistory #FoodTravel #FoodTourism #FranceTravel #brie #briedemeaux #frenchcheese #congressofvienna #aoc #fabulouslydelicious