Brin d’Amour meaning “a birth of love” is a Corsican cheese made from the milk of the Lacaune ewes. It is also known by its other name; Fleur de Maquis. This semi-soft cheese has a creamy, firm and a moist textured pate, which is covered by a natural, flavoured rind. It takes between 2 weeks to 2-3 months for the cheese to fully ripen.
During the making process, the cheese is covered with aromatic coating of rosemary, fennel seeds, juniper berries and the occasional bird's eye chili. It has a sour, citrusy taste and feels a bit mild in the mouth. With age, the cheese is dotted with blue-grey molds as the pate absorbs the herbal flavours of the rind. The strong characteristic flavours of the cheese are balanced by the delicate herbs. Because of its musty and nutty aroma, the cheese smells great too. Brin d’Amour matches nicely with Albarino, Riesling and Tempranillo.