Can camembert be made in other places or only Normandy?
A reader question, answered in The Connexion September print edition. Can camembert be made in other places in France, or only Normandy?
Question
Can camembert cheese only be made in Normandy? B.W.
Answer
No鈥� it can be made anywhere since production of camembert-style cheeses was widespread long before France created its appellation d鈥檕rigine contr么l茅e (AOC) protection label, or the EU its equivalent appellation d鈥檕rigine prot茅g茅e.
As long ago as 1909, a syndicate of Norman cheesemakers complained about 鈥渢hose who dare to sell under the name of 鈥渃amembert鈥� pale imitations made outside Normandy鈥�, especially in the centre and east of France. Today there is, for example, Tunworth camembert made in Hertfordshire, England, or Italian buffalo milk camembert.
However, there has been an AOC label since 1982 for camembert de Normandie, and an AOP since 1996, specifically protecting this name. Like other existing EU food-quality and origin labels, this will continue to be respected in the UK after Brexit, meaning a British maker cannot produce 鈥淣ormandy camembert鈥�.
Watch out, however: some cheese described as fabriqu茅 en Normandie (made in Normandy), is not camembert de Normandie. Camembert cheese originated in the village of Camembert (Orne), where it is said to have been perfected in the 18th century by a farmer, Marie Harel, with help from a priest. It is still made there, including by the last maker of AOP camembert fermier 鈥� made from the farm鈥檚 own milk 鈥� Fromagerie Durand.
Camembert de Normandie must be made traditionally from lait cru 鈥� unpasteurised milk, unlike most other camemberts. It must, of course, be made only in Normandy, from Norman milk.
