Bitto Cheese vs Tulum 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 Tulum Cheese is a goat-milk cheese, originating in Turkey.
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 Tulum Cheese?
Tulum is a Turkish goat's milk cheese ripened inside a goatskin casing, which is what the word tulum means in Turkish. It is made in several regions, and versions from Erzincan, İzmir, Divle, Çimi and Kargı each taste different.
What's the Difference Between Bitto Cheese and Tulum Cheese?
- Origin: Bitto Cheese (Italy), Tulum Cheese (Turkey)
- Milk type: Bitto Cheese (Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10%), Tulum Cheese (goat)
- Aging: Bitto Cheese (Minimum of 70 days), Tulum Cheese (about 6 months)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Bitto Cheese | Tulum Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | Turkey |
| Specific Origin | Province Of Sondrio, Lombardy, Including Neighboring Upland Pastures Of Lecco And Bergamo | Turkey |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10% | Goat |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Raw |
| Texture | Fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year | — |
| Rind | Smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age | — |
| Aging | Minimum of 70 days | About 6 months |
| Taste | Mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Bitto Cheese Taste Like Tulum Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Bitto Cheese at minimum of 70 days develops a different profile than Tulum Cheese at about 6 months.
Can You Substitute Bitto Cheese for Tulum Cheese?
Bitto Cheese can stand in for Tulum Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe.
Which Is Better, Bitto Cheese or Tulum Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitto Cheese the same as Tulum Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Bitto Cheese originates in Italy, while Tulum Cheese comes from Turkey. Bitto Cheese is made from cow and goat milk; Tulum Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Bitto Cheese is typically aged minimum of 70 days, Tulum Cheese about 6 months.
Is Bitto Cheese similar to Tulum Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Bitto Cheese for Tulum Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Bitto Cheese taste like Tulum 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 Tulum Cheese made of?
Tulum Cheese is made from goat milk (raw). It's typically aged about 6 months. It originates in Turkey.
Which should I choose, Bitto Cheese or Tulum Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.