Bitto Cheese vs Exmoor 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 Exmoor Blue Cheese is soft 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 Exmoor Blue Cheese?
Exmoor Blue Cheese is a full-fat soft blue-veined cheese made from unpasteurized Jersey cow’s milk in Devon and Somerset, England. It has a rich yellow color and a buttery texture, with an average fat content of 34%. The cheese has been handmade on Willet Farm since 1986, using traditional methods. It undergoes a maturation period of 3 to 6 weeks, during which it is regularly turned and treated with Penicillium roqueforti and Penicillium candidum to develop its distinctive blue veining. The lush pasture of the region, influenced by the warm, wet climate and red sandstone soil, contributes to the rich flavor of the milk used in production.
What's the Difference Between Bitto Cheese and Exmoor Blue Cheese?
- Milk type: Bitto Cheese (Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10%), Exmoor Blue Cheese (Cow)
- Milk treatment: Bitto Cheese (Raw), Exmoor Blue Cheese (Unpasteurized)
- Texture: Bitto Cheese (fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year), Exmoor Blue Cheese (Soft)
- Rind: Bitto Cheese (smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age), Exmoor Blue Cheese (Treated with Penicillium candidum)
- Aging: Bitto Cheese (Minimum of 70 days), Exmoor Blue Cheese (3 to 6 weeks)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Bitto Cheese | Exmoor Blue Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Province Of Sondrio, Lombardy, Including Neighboring Upland Pastures Of Lecco And Bergamo | Devon And Somerset, England |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10% | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Unpasteurized |
| Texture | Fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year | Soft |
| Rind | Smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age | Treated with Penicillium candidum |
| Aging | Minimum of 70 days | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Taste | Mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Bitto Cheese Taste Like Exmoor Blue Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Bitto Cheese at minimum of 70 days develops a different profile than Exmoor Blue Cheese at 3 to 6 weeks.
Can You Substitute Bitto Cheese for Exmoor Blue Cheese?
Bitto Cheese can stand in for Exmoor 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 soft.
Which Is Better, Bitto Cheese or Exmoor 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 soft profile, Exmoor Blue Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitto Cheese the same as Exmoor Blue Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Bitto Cheese is made from cow and goat milk; Exmoor Blue Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Bitto Cheese is typically aged minimum of 70 days, Exmoor Blue Cheese 3 to 6 weeks.
Is Bitto Cheese similar to Exmoor Blue Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Bitto Cheese for Exmoor Blue Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Bitto Cheese taste like Exmoor Blue Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
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 Exmoor Blue Cheese made of?
Exmoor Blue Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized), using vegetarian rennet. It's typically aged 3 to 6 weeks.
Which should I choose, Bitto Cheese or Exmoor 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 Exmoor Blue Cheese is soft.