For spooning over fruit, brioche or fromage blanc, choose a thick crème fraîche whose product name and ingredients suit this use. If you prefer products that can be stored at room temperature before opening and come in small cartons, semi-thick UHT cream may be a good option. However, check its texture, ingredients and storage instructions after opening separately.
If you want to serve fruit, brioche or fromage blanc with cream that holds its shape rather than pouring, look for a product labelled ‘thick crème fraîche’ or ‘thick cream’. Elle & Vire, Carrefour and E.Leclerc all offer thick varieties with 30% fat.
If you’d like to keep portions at room temperature before opening, small cartons of semi-thick UHT cream may suit your needs. However, Auchan’s 3 × 20 cl product must be refrigerated and used within a set time once opened.
Compare the cultures, added ingredients and origin information on each pack. The ingredient lists for Carrefour and Delisse’s fresh thick creams differ from that of Auchan’s semi-thick UHT cream.
For a sweet breakfast, start by thinking about how you’ll serve the cream, then compare the ingredients and storage instructions for each product.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Spoonable texture | Look for the product name ‘thick crème fraîche’ or ‘thick cream’ and check the stated texture. Don’t assume ‘semi-thick’ means the same as ‘thick’. | I want a cold topping for fruit or brioche, rather than cream to pour. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this texture. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredient list, particularly for cultures and any thickeners or stabilisers. | Before choosing, I want to know the difference between fermented fresh cream and a UHT product with other ingredients. Ingredients are the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Storage and pack size | Check storage instructions before and after opening, as well as the number and size of portions. | I only use cream on some mornings and want to open a small amount when I need it. Around 21% of consumers prioritise storage and pack size. |
| Fat content | Check the amount shown on the pack, the nutritional values per 100 g or 100 ml, and the portion you use. | I compare the fat content of the products I’m considering first. This is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Carrefour’s fresh thick cream and Auchan’s semi-thick UHT cream both contain 30% fat, but their product names and ingredient lists differ. Auchan’s cream, in particular, lists modified starch and stabilisers.
If you want a topping you can spoon on, check the product name and ingredients rather than relying on the fat percentage alone.
Being able to store a product at room temperature before opening no longer applies once the carton has been opened. For its semi-thick UHT cream, Auchan specifies storage between 0 °C and +6 °C and use within 5 days.
Choose a pack size that suits the amount you’ll use, and follow the instructions on the pack after opening.
The same fat content doesn’t tell you about a product’s texture or how it has been processed: the fresh thick creams and semi-thick UHT cream featured here all contain 30% fat.
Also compare the full product name, ingredients and nutritional values in their respective units.
The French Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that the use-by date is a strict deadline for products that carry one.
Also follow the storage temperature and any product-specific instructions for after opening.
The brand offers a thick full-fat cream from Normandy and a semi-thick full-fat UHT cream, both with 30% fat.
Carrefour offers a 196 g pot of thick full-fat crème fraîche with 30% fat.
Auchan offers semi-thick full-fat UHT cream with 30% fat, packaged in 3 × 20 cl cartons.
E.Leclerc offers a 20 cl pot of thick crème fraîche and a 1 L carton of full-fat UHT cream, both with 30% fat.
Thick crème fraîche is the choice if you’re looking for a thick texture, while semi-thick UHT cream may suit you if you want a product that can be stored before opening. Don’t assume the texture will be the same. Carrefour’s fresh thick cream and Auchan’s semi-thick UHT cream also differ in their ingredients, so check the product name and ingredient list on the one you buy.
Follow the instructions on the pack: storage conditions before opening don’t determine how the product should be stored afterwards. For its semi-thick UHT cream, Auchan specifies storage between 0 °C and +6 °C and use within 5 days of opening.
No. For products with a use-by date, the French Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control treats this as a strict deadline. Also follow the stated storage temperature and instructions for after opening.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. Carrefour highlights milk as an allergen in the product information for its thick crème fraîche, but this doesn’t tell you how much lactose the product contains.