Bitto Cheese vs Comté Cheese

Bitto Cheese is a hard cow or goat-milk cheese from Italy, while Comté Cheese is hard and made from cow milk, originating in France.

What Is Bitto Cheese?

Bitto is a raw-milk PDO cheese from the alpine pastures of Sondrio in Lombardy, made only between 1 June and 30 September from cow's milk, sometimes with up to 10 percent goat's milk. Young wheels taste mild and sweet, and some are aged for years.

What Is Comté Cheese?

Comté is a hard cheese from eastern France, made daily from raw cow's milk in village dairies called fruitières. It holds PDO status, has the largest production of any French PDO cheese, and tastes mild, nutty, salty and slightly sweet.

What's the Difference Between Bitto Cheese and Comté Cheese?

• Origin: Bitto Cheese (Italy), Comté Cheese (France)
• Milk type: Bitto Cheese (Cow's milk, sometimes with goat's milk), Comté Cheese (Cow's milk)
• Rind: Bitto Cheese (smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age), Comté Cheese (Natural)
• Aging: Bitto Cheese (Minimum of 70 days), Comté Cheese (4 months to 3 years)
• Taste: Bitto Cheese (mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age), Comté Cheese (Nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Bitto Cheese Taste Like Comté Cheese?

Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Comté Cheese brings nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted character. More specifically, Bitto Cheese shows cooked at 118–126°f, finely cut curd, matured for a minimum of 70 days, while Comté Cheese leans toward nutty, creamy, sweet through more meaty and roasted flavors, smooth texture, range of ages from 4 months to 3 years. Aging plays into this as well. Bitto Cheese at minimum of 70 days develops a different profile than Comté Cheese at 4 months to 3 years.

Can You Substitute Bitto Cheese for Comté Cheese?

Bitto Cheese can stand in for Comté Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Flavor-wise, Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age while Comté Cheese brings nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted notes.

Which Is Better, Bitto Cheese or Comté Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. Flavor-wise, Bitto Cheese suits recipes that want mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age notes, while Comté Cheese fits dishes calling for nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bitto Cheese the same as Comté Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Bitto Cheese originates in Italy, while Comté Cheese comes from France. Bitto Cheese is made from cow or goat milk; Comté Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Bitto Cheese is typically aged minimum of 70 days, Comté Cheese 4 months to 3 years.

Is Bitto Cheese similar to Comté Cheese?

Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.

Can I substitute Bitto Cheese for Comté Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.

Does Bitto Cheese taste like Comté Cheese?

Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Comté Cheese is nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted.

What is Bitto Cheese made of?

Bitto Cheese is made from cow or goat milk (raw), using calf rennet. It's typically aged minimum of 70 days. It originates in Italy.

What is Comté Cheese made of?

Comté Cheese is made from cow milk (raw). It's typically aged 4 months to 3 years. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Bitto Cheese or Comté Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.