''Fromage blanc'' (; ; also known as ''maquée'') is a

fresh cheese There are many different types of cheese. Cheeses can be grouped or classified according to criteria such as length of fermentation, texture, methods of production, fat content, animal milk, and country or region of origin. The method most com ...

originating from the north of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

and southern

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...

. The name means "white cheese" in

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

. ''Fromage frais'' ("fresh cheese") differs from ''fromage blanc'' in that, according to French legislation, ''fromage frais'' must contain live cultures when sold, whereas with ''fromage blanc'', fermentation has been halted. ''Fromage blanc'' is a creamy soft cheese made with whole or skimmed milk and cream. It is similar to some kinds of

quark A quark () is a type of elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons, the components of atomic nuclei. All commonly ...

. Pure ''fromage blanc'' is virtually fat free, but

cream Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process ...

is frequently added to improve the flavour, which also increases the fat content, frequently to as high as 8% of total weight. ''Fromage blanc'' can be served either as a

dessert Dessert is a course that concludes a meal. The course consists of sweet foods, such as confections, and possibly a beverage such as dessert wine and liqueur. In some parts of the world, such as much of Greece and West Africa, and most parts o ...

similar to

yogurt Yogurt (; , from tr, yoğurt, also spelled yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt) is a food produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yogurt are known as ''yogurt cultures''. Fermentation of sugars in the milk by these bac ...

, frequently with added

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in partic ...

, spread on bread, usually over or under jam, or used in savoury dishes. In many Western countries, ''fromage blanc'' is sold in supermarkets alongside yogurts.

References

{{French cheeses Fermented dairy products Acid-set cheeses Spreads (food)

See also

References