Munster (Soft French Cheese)
As we have discussed before on this site, Brie and Camembert rule the roost when it comes to soft French cheeses. Indeed, we looked at a rather splendid British Brie made in Somerset which shows just how popular the variety is. It was, therefore, a real treat to see a cheese I had certainly never heard of before gracing the shelves of my favourite supermarket. I consider myself adventurous in so much that I will try anything cheese-related (including a Morbier which was covered in fur and some rather suspect “fish cheese hybrid” from Japan). This at least looked like a legitimate offering. The cheese (Munster) is a soft cheese with an attractive yellow rind packed into a small cardboard wheel. The cheese originated from the Alsace region of France and is made with full fat cows milk.
The first thing you notice is the smell. It is pungent without being too unpleasant. It has a somewhat “farmy” smell – enough to linger a little in the fridge but not enough to cause passing children to retch and collapse (this is untested but I suspect it to be true). I would suggest perhaps storing in an airtight container both for freshness and the well-being of everything else in the fridge. As I mentioned, the rind has a rich colour somewhere between yellow and orange and, as with similar offerings, is completely edible. The cheese itself is wonderfully smooth with just a hint of an appealing rubberyness. The taste is fairly subtle but the texture makes up for it; the rind offering a bit of substance. The cheese spreads pretty well but still holds it’s form. The taste is not overly creamy or buttery but is exceptionally edible and suprisingly light. I could imagine going through a good chunk of the wheel without issue (which is probably not so good for my arteries…)
I had no real expectations when I picked up this cheese. It offers excellent value at just 75p per 100g. If you like soft cheese then I can see no reason why you wouldn’t enjoy this! Sure, it might not pack the most punch in the taste department and the smell might cause some issues in the fridge if not adequately stored but the whole experience is pleasant and should appeal to all the family!
RATING – 8.0
RECOMMENDATION – Spreads nicely and is also nice to eat on its own. Just make sure you seal it away when storing in the fridge!
Consummate copious consumer of cheese. Lover of a good strong cheddar!
Was very excited when a Lidl store opened up where I live just last year – will have to get over there and try some Munster!
I was very impressed (as was my brother who isn’t a bit cheese eater). I don’t think it’s going to be around for long though so you might have to be quick! I am sure you will be able to get it elsewhere when the shops re-open soon.