Boursin is a brand of Gournay

cheese Cheese is a dairy product produced in wide ranges of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep. During productio ...

. It is a soft creamy cheese available in a variety of flavours, with a flavour and texture somewhat similar to

cream cheese Cream cheese is a soft, usually mild-tasting fresh cheese made from milk and cream.Oxford English Dictionary Stabilizers such as carob bean gum and carrageenan are often added in industrial production. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration de ...

. The first Boursin flavour, Garlic and Fine Herbs, was created in 1957 by François Boursin, a cheese maker from

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

. Boursin's product was derived from a traditional party dish, fromage frais (French for "fresh cheese"); guests would take their cheese and add herbs for flavour. His recipe would be the first flavoured cheese product to be sold nationally in France. Boursin cheese was first developed in

, and at one time was produced exclusively in

Croisy-sur-Eure Croisy-sur-Eure (, literally ''Croisy on Eure'') is a commune in the Eure department in northern France. Population Economy The Gournay cheese Boursin brand is manufactured here. See also *Communes of the Eure department The following is ...

, France, by the Boursin company. In 1990, the Boursin name was acquired by

Unilever Unilever plc is a British multinational consumer goods company with headquarters in London, England. Unilever products include food, condiments, bottled water, baby food, soft drink, ice cream, instant coffee, cleaning agents, energy dri ...

, who sold it to

Groupe Bel The Bel Group (a.k.a. Groupe Bel or Fromageries Bel in French language, French) is a multinational cheese marketer centered in France. Overview The Bel Group is headquartered at 2 allée de Longchamp in Suresnes (near Paris). It manufactures and ...

in November 2007 for €400 million.

Advertising

The brand was advertised on television from 1 October 1968 on, when French television allowed commercial breaks for the first time. In 1972 their iconic advertising slogan: "Du pain, du vin, du Boursin" (English: "Some bread, some wine, some Boursin") was launched. This slogan was later modified to "Du pain, du Boursin, on est bien" ("Some bread, some Boursin, we are good.")

Flavours

* Garlic & Fine Herbs (1963-present) * Pepper (1966-present) * Fig & Walnut (2004-present) * Shallot & Chive (2007-present) * Red Chili Pepper (2014-present) * Cranberry & Spice (originally a limited edition flavor in US, sold as Cranberry & Pepper in France, currently sold as Cranberry & Pepper in Canada) * Basil & Chive (2017-present) * Caramelized Onion & Herbs (2021-present)

Limited edition flavours

* Maple Bourbon (2018) * Apple Cinnamon (2020) * Maple Apple (2020) * Fig & Basalmic (2020) * Chimichurri (2022)

Discontinued flavours

* Fig, Raisin & Nut (2007-?) * Garlic & Roasted Red Pepper * Tomato & Mediterranean Herbs (2012-?) * Goat Cheese & Rosemary (2013-?)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boursin (Cheese) French cheeses Cow's-milk cheeses Norman cuisine Products introduced in 1957 Former Unilever brands