The French Club served more than 30 different cheeses at their 8th annual cheese tasting Thursday.

Senior Danny Murphy, president of the French Club, believes cheese is a huge part of the French culture.

“We’re trying to expose the SMU community to French culture. Something more than what they already know,” Murphy said.

All of the cheeses were purchased at stores that have specialty cheeses. Murphy says that Central Market has about 20-30 different cheeses that are imported from France. Some of the cheeses offered at the tasting included Boursin, Brillat-Savarin, Camembert, Comte, Gourmandise, Mimolette, Morbier and Saint Nectaire.

“We spent about $800 on cheese alone,” Murphy said. They also provided sodas and baguettes for everyone.

Carrie Major, treasurer of the French Club, says that the tasting never pays for itself. The funding comes from the French Club and the Student Senate.

Even though the tasters pay $5 to enjoy, it still doesn’t cover the cost.

French Professor Rita Winandy says that cheeses are expensive. By having the cheese tasting, students have the opportunity to taste cheeses from every part of France.

“It’s a great way for students to experience what they study,” she said.

Cheese tasting isn’t the only annual event that the French Club sponsors. They also put on Les Desserts de Noel, which means Christmas desserts, and Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. The French Club’s largest event is the French film festival every spring. They show four or five French films that are not traditionally shown in the U.S. The entire Dallas community is invited, and the event caters to people with a French background.