Beaufort Cheese vs Blue Cheese
Beaufort Cheese
Blue Cheese
Beaufort Cheese is a hard cow-milk cheese from France, while Blue Cheese is crumbly, creamy, semi-soft and made from cow, goat, or sheep milk, originating in France.
What Is Beaufort Cheese?
Beaufort is a smooth, creamy cheese from the Savoie region of France. Known for its distinct concave wheel shape, it is produced from raw cow's milk and aged in mountain caves for a minimum of five months. Beaufort has a strong, sweet taste and is often used in fondue due to its excellent melting properties.
What Is Blue Cheese?
A type of cheese injected or inoculated with Penicillium mold to create blue or green veins, resulting in a tangy, sharp flavor and creamy or crumbly texture.
What's the Difference Between Beaufort Cheese and Blue Cheese?
- Milk type: Beaufort Cheese (cow's milk), Blue Cheese (Cow, Sheep, Goat)
- Milk treatment: Beaufort Cheese (Raw), Blue Cheese (Pasteurized or Raw)
- Texture: Beaufort Cheese (Hard), Blue Cheese (Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft)
- Rind: Beaufort Cheese (Even yellow color), Blue Cheese (Natural)
- Aging: Beaufort Cheese (5 to 12+ months), Blue Cheese (Typically aged 2-6 months)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Beaufort Cheese | Blue Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | France |
| Specific Origin | Beaufortin Valley, Savoie Region | — |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow, Sheep, Goat |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Pasteurized or Raw |
| Texture | Hard | Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft |
| Rind | Even yellow color | Natural |
| Aging | 5 to 12+ months | Typically aged 2-6 months |
| Taste | — | Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese — wines, foods, breads, and more.
| Beaufort Cheese | Blue Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | — | Amaro, Apricot, Asian Pear, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dirty Martini, Dried Figs, Fig Jam, German Riesling, Green Apple, Hard Cider, Honey, Honeycomb, IPA, Malbec, Muscat, Pear, Pecans, Port, Scotch, Steak |
| Other Good Pairings | — | Almonds, Apples, Belgian Blonde, Bordeaux, Burgundy Red, California Viogniers, Dried Cranberries, Grapes, Merlot, Mushrooms, Olives, Prosciutto, Roast Beef |
Which would you pick?
One click, anonymous — see what others chose.
Where to buy Beaufort Cheese and Blue Cheese
Beaufort Cheese
Blue Cheese
Taste Comparison: Does Beaufort Cheese Taste Like Blue Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. On the nose, Beaufort Cheese offers fruity, nutty, contrasted with Blue Cheese's strong, pungent, earthy, funky. More specifically, Beaufort Cheese shows ivory or slightly yellow color, occasional small eyes and thin slits, while Blue Cheese leans toward earthy, spicy, peppery, slightly sweet, umami, nutty, bitter. Aging plays into this as well. Beaufort Cheese at 5 to 12+ months develops a different profile than Blue Cheese at typically aged 2-6 months.
Can You Substitute Beaufort Cheese for Blue Cheese?
Beaufort Cheese can stand in for Blue Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect hard bite and body where the recipe calls for crumbly, creamy, semi-soft.
Which Is Better, Beaufort Cheese or Blue Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a hard cheese, go with Beaufort Cheese. For a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft profile, Blue Cheese is the better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beaufort Cheese the same as Blue Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Beaufort Cheese is made from cow milk; Blue Cheese uses cow, goat, or sheep. Aging also differs: Beaufort Cheese is typically aged 5 to 12+ months, Blue Cheese typically aged 2-6 months.
Is Beaufort Cheese similar to Blue Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Beaufort Cheese for Blue Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Beaufort Cheese taste like Blue Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Beaufort Cheese made of?
Beaufort Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using dried calves’ abomasum in recuite rennet. It's typically aged 5 to 12+ months. It originates in France.
What is Blue Cheese made of?
Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (pasteurized or raw), using traditional (animal rennet) or microbial (varies by producer) rennet. It's typically aged typically aged 2-6 months. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Beaufort Cheese or Blue Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Beaufort Cheese is hard, while Blue Cheese is crumbly, creamy, semi-soft.
See full profiles: Beaufort Cheese and Blue Cheese.