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Smell ammonia

Vieux Lille

France flag

Stink Level: 10/10

Salted and aged washed-rind cow’s milk cheese. It gives off a scent described as ammonia, fishy, pungent, overpowering, with a taste that’s salty, sharp, creamy, lingering, and a texture that's reddish rind, firm and dense interior. It’s often enjoyed crumbled into potatoes or eggs, served with beer.

Other names: Puant de Lille

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To the eye (and touch)
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Best enjoyed...

  • Crumbled into potatoes or eggs.
  • Served with beer.

Still thinking about it? Leave a comment and share what’s on your mind.

Soumaintrain

France flag

Stink Level: 9/10

Washed-rind cow’s milk cheese from Burgundy. It gives off a scent described as ammonia, sulfur, barnyard, intense, with a taste that’s creamy, strong, salty, pungent, and a texture that's sticky orange rind, soft and gooey interior. It’s often enjoyed spread on baguette, served with grapes or berries, paired with white burgundy.

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On the tongue
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To the eye (and touch)
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Best enjoyed...

  • Spread on baguette.
  • Served with grapes or berries.
  • Paired with white Burgundy.

Does it haunt you from the market shelf? Comment with your cheese anxiety.

Ami Du Chambertin

France flag

Stink Level: 9/10

Washed-rind cow's milk cheese from Burgundy. It gives off a scent described as barnyard, ammonia, fermented, cellar, with a taste that’s salty, creamy, tangy, savory, and a texture that's orange rind, gooey interior, sticky, soft. It’s often enjoyed spread on bread, served with berries, paired with pinot noir.

On the nose
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On the tongue
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To the eye (and touch)
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Best enjoyed...

  • Spread on bread.
  • Served with berries.
  • Paired with Pinot Noir.

Ever crossed paths with this cheese? Leave a comment and tell us what tempted you—or held you back.

Camembert

France flag

Stink Level: 6/10

Soft-ripened cow's milk cheese with bloomy rind. It gives off a scent described as earthy, mushroomy, vegetal, ammonia, with a taste that’s buttery, nutty, creamy, mild tang, and a texture that's white rind, creamy inside, soft, runny when ripe. It’s often enjoyed baked whole, served with apples or nuts, paired with cider or champagne.

Other names: Camembert de Normandie

On the nose
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On the tongue
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To the eye (and touch)
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Best enjoyed...

  • Baked whole.
  • Served with apples or nuts.
  • Paired with cider or Champagne.

Is this one still on your must-try list? Share your ranking in a comment.

Limburger

Germany flagBelgium flag

Stink Level: 10/10

Famous washed-rind cow's milk cheese from Belgium/Germany. It gives off a scent described as body odor, sweaty socks, feet, ammonia, with a taste that’s mild, tangy, salty, earthy, and a texture that's orange-brown rind, creamy interior, sticky. It’s often enjoyed served on rye with onions and mustard, paired with bock beer.

On the nose
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On the tongue
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To the eye (and touch)
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Best enjoyed...

  • Served on rye with onions and mustard.
  • Paired with bock beer.

Smelled it but didn’t bite? Share your reason in a comment.