Fleur d'Aunis Cheese from France Is a Great Value Washed Rind Cheese

A Great Value Washed Rind Cheese – Fleur d”Aunis

I really like this cheese because it is a “value” cheese” however it is still an imported cheese from France so it’s not going to be that inexpensive.

It’s also a “washed rind” cheese that is first bathed in Pineau des Charentes, a Cognac-fortified aperitif wine and then brushed gently with salt water. This salt re-crystalizes on the rind to give it some additional texture so if you enjoy eating cheese rinds, you’re going to like this one.

Fleur d’Aunis or Flower of Aunis is a pungent cheese, what I like to call a “stinky” cheese but in a good way. It is made from pasteurized cow’s milk and has a 50% fat content.

With a meaty mouth feel and buttery taste, throw in a little briny-nutty flavor and you have a great cheese for all occasions. I paid around $15 per pound where most of the washed rind cheeses, except for Taleggio, sell for $22 and up.

Washed Rind Basics

“Washed rind” is a way to describe cheeses that have their exteriors washed with mildly salted water to help attract bacteria essential for developing the moist rinds with their distinctive reddish color and wonderful pungent smell.

There are high moisture content washed rind cheeses like Taleggio and Epoisse that get broken down by the bacteria with age and become creamier over time. When they are perfectly ripe, the soft interior will actually ooze but remember they also get “slinkier” with all that oozing.

Other washed rind cheeses that start with lower moisture content like Gruyère or Appenzeller actually become firmer and drier as they age.

Fleur d’Aunis – The Short of It

Milk Type: pasteurized cow’s milk
Region: Charentes-Poitou – north-west coast of France
Country: France
Type: Semi-soft
Shape: Round
Wheel Weight: 6.5 pounds
Rind: Sticky, gritty to the touch, pale orange, edible
Paste: Golden yellow, smooth but with fissures & a little rubbery
Taste: rich, buttery, nutty & just a little bit tangy
Aroma: The rind smells like wet hay in a barn while the paste smells nutty with mushroom aromas
Fat content: 50%
Aging Time: 1 month
Texture: Creamy

Online Sources: Cheese

Convenience - Selections - Quality - Gift Giving - Corporate Events

I strongly urge you to find a good cheese shop near you so you can get to know your cheesemongers and they get to know you. However, if you don't have a good local cheese shop or they don't have some of the cheeses I recommend, here are some online sources for you. Be careful to buy the best product you can afford so you don't end up with an inferior product. The links below are affiliate links.

Murray's Cheese

When I lived in New York City, Murray's was one of my favorite places to buy artisanal cheese, charcuterie and fine accoutrements. Murray's is one of the oldest cheese purveyors in New York and now they are bringing their amazing selection of quality foods and cheeses right to your doorstep. Check out Murray's today.

Di Bruno Bros.

Di Bruno Brothers is close to home to me. They have been in Philadelphia since 1939 and prided themselves on bringing amazing food to the city of Philadelphia and drawing food lovers together in their ‘home.’ They also have a store just outside of Philly where I get most of my cheese and cured meats. If you can't find a particular cheese in your market, most likely Di Bruno Bros. will.