Bitto Cheese vs West Country Farmhouse Cheddar 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 West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is firm and made from cow milk.
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 West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
West Country Farmhouse Cheddar is a firm cow's milk cheese made by traditional methods in Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Cornwall. Its name has been protected in the EU and UK since 2007, and only milk from those four counties may be used.
What's the Difference Between Bitto Cheese and West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
- Milk type: Bitto Cheese (Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10%), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (Cow)
- Texture: Bitto Cheese (fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (Firm)
- Rind: Bitto Cheese (smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (cloth-wrapped)
- Aging: Bitto Cheese (Minimum of 70 days), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (Minimum 9 months)
- Taste: Bitto Cheese (mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (Nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Bitto Cheese | West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Province Of Sondrio, Lombardy, Including Neighboring Upland Pastures Of Lecco And Bergamo | Dorset, Somerset, Devon And Cornwall |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10% | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Raw |
| 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 | Cloth-wrapped |
| Aging | Minimum of 70 days | Minimum 9 months |
| Taste | Mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age | Nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness |
Taste Comparison: Does Bitto Cheese Taste Like West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese brings nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness character. More specifically, Bitto Cheese shows cooked at 118–126°f, finely cut curd, matured for a minimum of 70 days, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese leans toward sharp and pungent, often slightly earthy, with a hazelnut note and large calcium lactate crystals when well matured. Aging plays into this as well. Bitto Cheese at minimum of 70 days develops a different profile than West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese at minimum 9 months.
Can You Substitute Bitto Cheese for West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
Bitto Cheese can stand in for West Country Farmhouse Cheddar 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 West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese brings nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness notes.
Which Is Better, Bitto Cheese or West Country Farmhouse Cheddar 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, West Country Farmhouse Cheddar 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 West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese fits dishes calling for nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitto Cheese the same as West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Bitto Cheese is made from cow and goat milk; West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Bitto Cheese is typically aged minimum of 70 days, West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese minimum 9 months.
Is Bitto Cheese similar to West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Bitto Cheese for West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Bitto Cheese taste like West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness.
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 West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese made of?
West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged minimum 9 months.
Which should I choose, Bitto Cheese or West Country Farmhouse Cheddar 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 West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is firm.