If you’re looking for a tangy note to go with a savoury breakfast, choose cultured thick cream made with lactic ferments, then check the fat content separately. Full-fat cream with 30% fat is a good option if you’d also like to use it in other dishes. A 15% version suits a different priority, while the Isigny AOP products mentioned by Carrefour and Auchan contain 35% or 40% fat, depending on the product.
If you’re serving the cream cold with a savoury breakfast, look for the words ‘crème fraîche épaisse’ on the label and check the ingredients. Elle & Vire says that lactic ferments help to develop the tangy flavour and thicken the cream.
Thick cream with 30% fat can be served at breakfast and used in other dishes too. Carrefour and Auchan list products made with pasteurised cream and lactic ferments; check the ingredients of the tub you choose.
If this matters more to you than choosing full-fat cream, compare the percentages on the labels. Aldi France, for example, lists Milsani thick crème fraîche with 15% fat.
For a savoury breakfast, consider the flavour that comes from maturation separately from the fat content, then choose a pack size that suits how often you’ll use it.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and maturation | Check for the words ‘crème fraîche épaisse’ and look for lactic ferments in the ingredients. | I want to spoon the cream cold onto a savoury slice of toast and am mainly looking for a tangy note. Around 45% of consumers are said to prioritise this flavour associated with maturation. |
| Ingredients and pack size | Compare the ingredients, the amount in the tub and the storage instructions after opening. | If I’m also going to use the same tub in other dishes, I’d prefer full-fat cream in a size that suits the way I use it. This versatility is said to be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Fat content | Check the fat percentage. To compare nutritional values, use the same basis of 100 g. | I want to keep a thick texture, but choose based on fat content rather than the qualities of full-fat cream. Around 22% of consumers are said to put this first. |
Thickness alone doesn’t tell you the fat content. Aldi France lists Milsani thick cream with both 15% and 30% fat.
Compare the percentage shown on each product, then look for lactic ferments if maturation matters to you.
The Elle & Vire UHT semi-thick full-fat cream listed here contains skimmed milk, modified starch, stabilisers and carrageenans, among other ingredients. Its product name and recipe differ from the cream-and-ferment-based thick crème fraîche listed by Carrefour and Auchan.
If you’re serving it cold, compare the product name and ingredients rather than looking at the fat content alone.
Auchan’s 50 cl product should be kept between +2 °C and +6 °C and used soon after opening.
Choose a size to suit the breakfasts and other recipes you have planned, then follow the instructions on the tub you buy.
Auchan says the ingredients in this product may vary depending on the store’s online grocery service and the date of purchase.
Before choosing, check the ingredients, allergens and storage date on the local product page or the packaging of the product in question.
The brand explains how lactic ferments help to make thick cream and also lists a 30% fat UHT semi-thick full-fat cream.
Carrefour lists a 196 g tub of full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat.
Auchan lists a 50 cl tub of full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat.
Aldi France lists Milsani thick crème fraîche with 30% fat, as well as a lighter 15% version.
Maturation refers to the action of lactic ferments on the cream, which Elle & Vire says makes it tangier and thicker. It doesn’t indicate a fixed fat content, so check the percentage separately.
No. A thick texture alone doesn’t tell you the fat content. Aldi France, for example, lists Milsani thick cream with 15% and 30% fat. Check the percentages on the specific products you’re comparing.
Start with the product name and ingredients to tell thick crème fraîche apart from UHT semi-thick cream. Then check the fat content, allergens, quantity and storage instructions for the tub you choose.
Follow the temperature, date and after-opening instructions on your tub. For its 50 cl product, Auchan recommends storing it between +2 °C and +6 °C and using it soon after opening. These instructions don’t replace those on any other product.