Bitto Cheese vs Dorset Blue Cheese
Bitto Cheese
Dorset Blue Cheese
Bitto Cheese is a fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year cow and goat-milk cheese from Italy, while Dorset Blue Cheese is firm and made from cow milk.
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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 Dorset Blue Cheese?
Dorset Blue is an English cow's milk blue cheese protected by a European designation of origin. Also sold as Dorset Blue Vinney, it is known for moderate blue veining and a piquant flavor that stops short of being strong.
What's the Difference Between Bitto Cheese and Dorset Blue Cheese?
- Milk type: Bitto Cheese (Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10%), Dorset Blue Cheese (Cow)
- Milk treatment: Bitto Cheese (Raw), Dorset Blue Cheese (Skimmed)
- Texture: Bitto Cheese (fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year), Dorset Blue Cheese (Firm)
- Rind: Bitto Cheese (smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age), Dorset Blue Cheese (Rough, dry brown mold coating)
- Aging: Bitto Cheese (Minimum of 70 days), Dorset Blue Cheese (12 to 20 weeks)
- Taste: Bitto Cheese (mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age), Dorset Blue Cheese (Piquant, peppery, mild to strong)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Bitto Cheese | Dorset Blue Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Province Of Sondrio, Lombardy, Including Neighboring Upland Pastures Of Lecco And Bergamo | Dorset, England |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10% | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Skimmed |
| Texture | Fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year | Firm |
| Rind | Smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age | Rough, dry brown mold coating |
| Aging | Minimum of 70 days | 12 to 20 weeks |
| Taste | Mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age | Piquant, peppery, mild to strong |
Taste Comparison: Does Bitto Cheese Taste Like Dorset Blue Cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Dorset Blue Cheese brings piquant, peppery, mild to strong character. More specifically, Bitto Cheese shows cooked at 118–126°f, finely cut curd, matured for a minimum of 70 days, while Dorset Blue Cheese leans toward piquant like other blue cheeses, not excessively strong. Aging plays into this as well. Bitto Cheese at minimum of 70 days develops a different profile than Dorset Blue Cheese at 12 to 20 weeks.
Can You Substitute Bitto Cheese for Dorset Blue Cheese?
Bitto Cheese can stand in for Dorset Blue Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year bite and body where the recipe calls for firm. Flavor-wise, Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age while Dorset Blue Cheese brings piquant, peppery, mild to strong notes.
Which Is Better, Bitto Cheese or Dorset Blue Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year cheese, go with Bitto Cheese. For a firm profile, Dorset Blue Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Bitto Cheese suits recipes that want mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age notes, while Dorset Blue Cheese fits dishes calling for piquant, peppery, mild to strong.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitto Cheese the same as Dorset Blue Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Bitto Cheese is made from cow and goat milk; Dorset Blue Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Bitto Cheese is typically aged minimum of 70 days, Dorset Blue Cheese 12 to 20 weeks.
Is Bitto Cheese similar to Dorset Blue Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Bitto Cheese for Dorset Blue Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Bitto Cheese taste like Dorset Blue Cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Dorset Blue Cheese is piquant, peppery, mild to strong.
What is Bitto Cheese made of?
Bitto Cheese is made from cow and goat milk (raw), using calf rennet. It's typically aged minimum of 70 days. It originates in Italy.
What is Dorset Blue Cheese made of?
Dorset Blue Cheese is made from cow milk (skimmed). It's typically aged 12 to 20 weeks.
Which should I choose, Bitto Cheese or Dorset Blue Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Bitto Cheese is fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year, while Dorset Blue Cheese is firm.