Bitto Cheese vs Fromage Blanc 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 Fromage Blanc Cheese is smooth and homogenous.
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 Fromage Blanc Cheese?
Fromage blanc is an acid-coagulated fresh cheese from northern France and southern Belgium whose name means white cheese. It looks like yogurt, tastes mild, and works in desserts and savoury dishes alike.
What's the Difference Between Bitto Cheese and Fromage Blanc Cheese?
- Texture: Bitto Cheese (fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year), Fromage Blanc Cheese (smooth and homogenous)
- Taste: Bitto Cheese (mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age), Fromage Blanc Cheese (mild)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Bitto Cheese | Fromage Blanc Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Province Of Sondrio, Lombardy, Including Neighboring Upland Pastures Of Lecco And Bergamo | Northern France And Southern Belgium |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10% | — |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | — |
| Texture | Fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year | Smooth and homogenous |
| Rind | Smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age | — |
| Aging | Minimum of 70 days | — |
| Taste | Mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age | Mild |
Taste Comparison: Does Bitto Cheese Taste Like Fromage Blanc Cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Fromage Blanc Cheese brings mild character.
Can You Substitute Bitto Cheese for Fromage Blanc Cheese?
Bitto Cheese can stand in for Fromage Blanc 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 smooth and homogenous. Flavor-wise, Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age while Fromage Blanc Cheese brings mild notes.
Which Is Better, Bitto Cheese or Fromage Blanc 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 smooth and homogenous profile, Fromage Blanc 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 Fromage Blanc Cheese fits dishes calling for mild.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitto Cheese the same as Fromage Blanc Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses.
Is Bitto Cheese similar to Fromage Blanc Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Bitto Cheese for Fromage Blanc Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Bitto Cheese taste like Fromage Blanc Cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Fromage Blanc Cheese is mild.
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 Fromage Blanc Cheese made of?
Fromage Blanc Cheese is made from milk.
Which should I choose, Bitto Cheese or Fromage Blanc 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 Fromage Blanc Cheese is smooth and homogenous.