Bitto Cheese vs Myzithra 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 Myzithra Cheese is soft, whey and made from goat or sheep milk, originating in Greece.
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 Myzithra Cheese?
Mizithra is a Greek whey cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk and whey, produced mainly on Crete. It is sold fresh and soft like ricotta, or salted and dried into the grating cheese Greeks sprinkle over hot pasta.
What's the Difference Between Bitto Cheese and Myzithra Cheese?
- Origin: Bitto Cheese (Italy), Myzithra Cheese (Greece)
- Milk type: Bitto Cheese (Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10%), Myzithra Cheese (goat's or sheep's milk)
- Texture: Bitto Cheese (fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year), Myzithra Cheese (soft, whey)
- Aging: Bitto Cheese (Minimum of 70 days), Myzithra Cheese (a few days for the fresh form)
- Taste: Bitto Cheese (mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age), Myzithra Cheese (mild)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Bitto Cheese | Myzithra Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | Greece |
| Specific Origin | Province Of Sondrio, Lombardy, Including Neighboring Upland Pastures Of Lecco And Bergamo | Crete, Greece |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10% | Goat's or sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Raw |
| Texture | Fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year | Soft, whey |
| Rind | Smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age | — |
| Aging | Minimum of 70 days | A few days for the fresh form |
| Taste | Mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age | Mild |
Taste Comparison: Does Bitto Cheese Taste Like Myzithra Cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Myzithra Cheese brings mild character. More specifically, Bitto Cheese shows cooked at 118–126°f, finely cut curd, matured for a minimum of 70 days, while Myzithra Cheese leans toward almost sweet and milky when fresh. Aging plays into this as well. Bitto Cheese at minimum of 70 days develops a different profile than Myzithra Cheese at a few days for the fresh form.
Can You Substitute Bitto Cheese for Myzithra Cheese?
Bitto Cheese can stand in for Myzithra 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, whey. Flavor-wise, Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age while Myzithra Cheese brings mild notes.
Which Is Better, Bitto Cheese or Myzithra 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, whey profile, Myzithra 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 Myzithra Cheese fits dishes calling for mild.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitto Cheese the same as Myzithra Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Bitto Cheese originates in Italy, while Myzithra Cheese comes from Greece. Bitto Cheese is made from cow and goat milk; Myzithra Cheese uses goat or sheep. Aging also differs: Bitto Cheese is typically aged minimum of 70 days, Myzithra Cheese a few days for the fresh form.
Is Bitto Cheese similar to Myzithra Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Bitto Cheese for Myzithra Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Bitto Cheese taste like Myzithra Cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Myzithra 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 Myzithra Cheese made of?
Myzithra Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk (raw). It's typically aged a few days for the fresh form. It originates in Greece.
Which should I choose, Bitto Cheese or Myzithra 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 Myzithra Cheese is soft, whey.