Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Camembert

Unlock the perfect flavour pairings for Camembert according to data science. Explore unique recipes and discover the hidden mathematics of flavour.
Camembert immediately conjures the evocative embrace of mould and the kiss of butyric acid, but beneath its umaminess lies a complex symphony of subtle flavour notes, such as protease, butter, and hints of cabbage that contribute remarkable depth. And the artistry of the kitchen begins when we seek out partners that allow these notes to truly sing, to harmonise in unexpected and delightful ways.
To illuminate these harmonies, we embarked on an ambitious journey, analysing thousands of ingredients. Each was meticulously deconstructed across 150 distinct flavour dimensions, allowing us to pinpoint precisely which notes complement in both classic and unexpected ways. Our findings reveal, for instance, how pistachio's amygdaline tones can resonate with Camembert, or how celery's selinon notes create an unexpectedly harmonious bridge with the pungent aroma.
Flavour Profile Of Camembert Across 150 Dimensions Of Flavour
Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Camembert: Mouldy, Butyric, Proteolytic, Buttery, Brassica, Porcini, Asparagus, Fungus, Lactic, Limestone, Allicin, Parsnip, Spinach, Coconut, Walnut, Brettanomyces, Milky, Petrichor, Hay, Onion, Porcine, Bovine, Acetic, Sulfurous, Leather, Yeasty, Potato
An ingredient's flavour comes from its core characteristics, like acidic, earthy, and carnal, combined with its unique aroma notes (outer bars). When pairing ingredients, aim to include a broad variety of core characteristics for a balanced dish. And choose aroma notes that complement each other for a harmonious combination.
The Art of Flavour Pairing
To understand exactly which flavours harmonise, we compiled a database of over 50,000 ingredient pairings commonly used in cooking. We then analysed these pairings, identifying the specific flavour notes that frequently appear together.
The Flavours That Harmonise With Penicillium Notes
Strength of Association Between Flavours
The flavours most associated with penicillium notes are: Celery, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Balsam, Pea, Basil, Bay leaf, Onion, Grassy, Pine, Resin, Brassica, Gentian, Sulfurous.
Our analysis reveals a strong connection between mould and celery flavours. Since Camembert has a distinct mouldy flavour, try pairing it with the celery-like flavours of celery.
The recipe below provides inspiration for pairing Camembert with celery.
Harmonious Flavours Of Camembert
Just as our statistical analysis showed that mould and celery-like flavours combine harmoniously, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour accents present in Camembert. For instance, the butyric flavours of Camembert are strongly associated with plum-like and almond flavours.
The notes complementary to the various notes of Camembert can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.
Flavour Profile Of Camembert And Its Complementary Flavour Notes
Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Camembert: Mouldy, Butyric, Proteolytic, Buttery, Brassica, Porcini, Asparagus, Fungus, Lactic, Limestone, Allicin, Parsnip, Spinach, Coconut, Walnut, Brettanomyces, Milky, Petrichor, Hay, Onion, Porcine, Bovine, Acetic, Sulfurous, Leather, Yeasty, Potato
Matching Flavour Profiles
The flavour profile of pistachio offers many of the accents complementary to Camembert, including almond and pine aromas. Because the flavour profile of pistachio has many of the of the features that are complementary to Camembert, they are likely to pair very well together.
Prominent Flavour Notes Of Pistachio Are Represented By Longer Bars
Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Pistachio: Almond, Pine, Cedar, Sesame, Hazelnut, Rosemary, Seedy, Bean, Walnut, Hoppy, Sage, Bay leaf, Ginger, Resinous, Grassy, Eucalyptol, Allspice, Buttery, Chamomile, Coconut, Corn, Pea, Celery, Safranal, Cocoa, Thyme, Fennel, Neroli, Olivey, Capsicum, Ficus, Bergamot, Capsaicin, Potato, Rice, Proteolytic
The chart above shows the unique profile of pistachio across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with Camembert.
Recipes That Pair Camembert With Pistachio
Linked Flavour Notes
Looking at the notes that are most strongly associated with the various flavours of Camembert, we can identify other ingredients that are likely to pair well.
Camembert's Harmonious Flavours And Complementary Ingredients
Camembert's Strongest Flavours
Complementary Flavours
Ingredients with Complementary Flavours
Flavour groups:
Nectarous
Acidic
Floral
Herbal
Spice
Maillard
Earthy
Woody
Carnal
The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of Camembert, along with the complementary aromas associated with each note. While the right side shows some of the ingredients that share many of the accents complementary to Camembert.
What To Drink With Camembert
The plum notes in alentejo make it a perfect pairing with camembert. Likewise, the oaky flavours in amarone create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of camembert below.
Which Spices Go With Camembert?
Choose spices that infuse with its nuttiness or lift its pungent aroma. Nutmeg and bay leaf offer vibrant, clean counterpoints, their verdant freshness lifting the palate. Juniper berry add a gentle, oniony brightness, while pink peppercorn introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.
Alternatively, embrace spices that harmonise with Camembert's earthiness. The addition of black pepper, with its subtle quinine notes, can complement the chanterelle beautifully, while dried chilli lends a resinous aroma.
How Flavonomics Works
We've pioneered a unique, data-driven approach to decode the intricate art of flavour pairing. Our goal is to move beyond intuition and uncover the science of why certain ingredients harmonise beautifully. This rigorous methodology allows us to provide you with insightful and reliable pairing recommendations.
Our analysis begins with over 50,000 carefully selected recipes from acclaimed chefs like Galton Blackiston, Marcello Tully, and Pierre Lambinon. This premium dataset ensures our model distils genuine culinary excellence and creativity.
Each ingredient from these recipes is deconstructed across 150 distinct flavour dimensions, creating a unique numerical "flavour fingerprint." This quantification allows us to apply advanced analytical methods to identify complex patterns between flavour notes.
We identify popular ingredient combinations that frequently appear in our recipe database. Regression analysis is then performed on these pairings to statistically validate and pinpoint truly harmonious flavours.
These insights drive our predictive model, which allows us to take any ingredient (e.g., Camembert), analyse its detailed flavour profile, and accurately reveal its complementary flavours and perfect ingredient partners.
Explore More
Discover more ingredient profiles and expand your culinary knowledge. Each ingredient page offers detailed analysis of flavour profiles, pairing insights, and culinary applications.
The content on our analysis blog is semi-automated. All of the words were manually written by a human, but the content is updated dynamically based on the data.