Just put one in your lunch box! (Mini Babybel)

Member Name: numberthree

Product:	Mini Babybel
Date:	20/01/05 (1226 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tasty, Small

Disadvantages: Small, Maybe pricey

I have been buying Babybel cheeses for years now. My children spotted them one day in the supermarket and said 'can we try these Mum?' Since then I always have some in the fridge.

Babybels you say - what are those? Well they are the numerous small round(ish) red cheeses you can buy in a white plastic net from the supermarket chiller shelves. They are round, but like a squashed football, and around 1 inch or so in diameter. You usually get six in a net, although this Christmas I did find 12 contained in a festive red net rather than the normal white! A net of six costs around £1.30. Each individual cheese weighs in at 20g and is wrapped in bright red cellophane, with the white Mini Babybel logo on - do they make these in full size I wonder? The ‘light’ version have ‘light’ written along side the logo. Inside the cellophane the cheese is encased in red wax – not unlike a miniature Edam. Although these are French cheeses, not Dutch, made by Fromageries Bel, Paris! It is very easy and fun to get into these delightful cheeses – you simply remove the cellophane outer wrapper and then split the wax using the easy open strip and voila you can slip off the wax case to leave a yummy cheese wheel. The wax can become a little difficult to remove if it becomes warm, but normally there is no problem at all.

Now my preference in this health conscious world is to buy the ‘light’ version and to be honest I don’t think there is any taste difference between this and the ordinary version – just a little less fat. Talking of which the ordinary version carries 299kcal, 23g of protein, 23g of fat, 680mg calcium per 100g (this is 5 cheeses though!) and vitamin A and B12. The label says that they are made from natural cheese, contain no preservatives and are suitable for vegetarians. So, all in all a very healthy food.

When you bite into one you are greeted with a very creamy texture and taste – not cheddar but not Dairylea – somewhere in between I think, but there is a Cheddar version now I believe. This cheese is not very strong but has a subtle taste and is definitely not bland. They are neither hard nor soft – somehow in between. However, this is not an average, in between, run of the mill cheese – it does have a special ‘je ne sais quois’ about it!

They are great to add to lunch boxes or to take on picnics. If they aren't eaten then they go straight back in the fridge, the use by dates are pretty good. Also, they make nice healthy snacks when the children (or myself) are feeling peckish. The packaging is a great idea if a little difficult to get into at times, but my children find it a challenge to see who can get into theirs first. Also to buy them in the white nets sets them apart from other small cheeses on the chiller shelves. Although, you can find them in singles too. We go through lots and lots; we are a heavy cheese household mind. A great product with good attractive and eye catching packaging. Shame they are French really!!

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