Brie de Meaux — the king of cheeses and arguably the most famous soft cheese in the world — has one of the most extraordinary stories in the entire history of French food. This episode of Fabulously Delicious tells the full story of Brie de Meaux, from Charlemagne ordering cartloads of it in 774 to the Congress of Vienna in 1815 where Talleyrand staged a tasting of 52 European cheeses and Brie de Meaux was crowned the greatest of them all. Raw cow's milk, a soft white rind, a straw-yellow custardy interior with notes of hazelnut, almond and mushroom — and a history that spans more than a thousand years. The episode covers the full history of this remarkable AOC and PDO protected cheese — from the monks of the Abbaye Notre-Dame-de-Jouarre in the Seine-et-Marne who first produced it, to King Philippe-Auguste sending 200 wheels to his courtiers as New Year gifts in 1217, to Louis XVI stopping to finish a plate of Brie and a glass of red wine while fleeing the French Revolution. And there is one gloriously aristocratic detail that tells you everything about this cheese — there is exactly one farmhouse producer of Brie de Meaux making it from their own herd today. That producer is the Rothschild family. The second half of the episode covers everything you need to know about buying and enjoying Brie de Meaux — how it is made, including the extraordinary hand-moulding process using the traditional pelle à brie that cannot be replicated by machine, the two-month production time from fresh milk to finished wheel, the best season to buy it, how to store it, what wines to pair it with, and why you should always eat the rind. This is French cheese history, French cheese culture and practical French cheese guidance all in one episode. Brie de Meaux is one of the great cheeses of France and this episode is the story it deserves. Whether you are a devoted fromage enthusiast or simply curious about why one soft cheese from a small region east of Paris became the most celebrated in the world, this episode will change how you think about it. Search Fabulously Delicious on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for more French food stories every week. Send us Fan Mail Support the show My book Paris: A Fabulous Food Guide to the World’s Most Delicious City is your ultimate companion. This is a new 2026 update for the book and you’ll find hand-picked recommendations for the best boulangeries, patisseries, wine bars, cafés, and restaurants that truly capture the flavor of Paris. You can order it online at andrewpriorfabulously.com For those who want to take things further, why not come cook with me here in Montmorillon, in the heart of France’s Vienne region? Combine hands-on French cooking classes with exploring charming markets, tasting regional specialties, and soaking up the slow, beautiful pace of French countryside life. Every contribution makes a huge difference.