What is Camembert cheese?
[[File:Four cheese plates on the haven.jpg|thumb|Camembert Cheese from Cheese plate ]] [[File:Camember Val de Saone 03.jpg|thumb|Camembert cheese]] '''Camembert cheese''', more generally known as '''Camembert''', is a [[France|French]] [[soft cheese]]. It originated in the village of [[Camembert]] in [[Normandy]]. Since 1983, the name ''Camembert de Normandie'' has been protected as [[Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée|Appellation d'Origine controlée (AOC)]]. == Production == Camembert is made from unpasteurized [[cow]]'s [[milk]], and is ripened by the [[mould]]s ''[[Penicillium candida]]'' and ''[[Penicillium camemberti]]'' for at least three weeks. It is produced in small rounds, about 250 [[gram]]s in weight, which are wrapped in paper and boxed in thin wooden boxes. == Characteristics == When fresh, it is quite crumbly and relatively hard, but it characteristically ripens and becomes more runny and strongly flavoured as it ages. Camembert can be used in many dishes, but it is popularly eaten uncooked on bread or with wine or meat, to enjoy the subtle flavour and texture which do not survive heating. == History == [[File:Camembert de Normandie (AOP) 10.jpg|thumb]] Camembert was reputedly invented in 1791 by [[Marie Harel]], a farmer from [[Normandy]]. However, the origin of the cheese we know today as camembert is more likely to rest with the beginnings of the industrialisation of the cheese-making process at the end of the 19th century. In 1890, an engineer, M. Ridel invented the wooden box which was used to carry the cheese and helped to send it for longer distances, in particular to America where it became very popular. These boxes are still used today. Before [[fungi]] were properly understood, the colour of Camembert rind was a matter of chance, most commonly blue-grey, with brown spots. From the early 20th century onwards the rind has been more commonly pure white, but it was not until the mid-1970s that pure white became standard. [[File:Tesco Camembert cheese with wooden box.jpg|left|thumb|Camembert