Bleu de Gex Cheese vs Wagashi Cheese

Bleu de Gex Cheese is a creamy cow-milk cheese from France, while Wagashi Cheese is compact and made from cow milk.

What Is Bleu de Gex Cheese?

Bleu de Gex is a creamy, semi-soft blue cheese from the Jura region of France, made with unpasteurized Montbéliard cow's milk and aged at least three weeks. It is milder and younger than most French blues, and every wheel is stamped with the word Gex.

What Is Wagashi Cheese?

Wagashi is a soft cow's milk cheese from northern Benin, sold in quantity in Parakou and across the West African savanna. It is mild in flavor and almost always cooked, usually in a sauce eaten with pounded yams or millet or maize pâte.

What's the Difference Between Bleu de Gex Cheese and Wagashi Cheese?

• Milk treatment: Bleu de Gex Cheese (Unpasteurized), Wagashi Cheese (Heated)
• Texture: Bleu de Gex Cheese (Creamy), Wagashi Cheese (Compact)
• Rind: Bleu de Gex Cheese (Natural, brushed), Wagashi Cheese (red wax coating)
• Aging: Bleu de Gex Cheese (3 weeks minimum), Wagashi Cheese (Fresh or dried)
• Taste: Bleu de Gex Cheese (Mild, with a hint of mushroom), Wagashi Cheese (mild)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Bleu de Gex Cheese Taste Like Wagashi Cheese?

Bleu de Gex Cheese reads as mild, with a hint of mushroom, while Wagashi Cheese brings mild character. More specifically, Bleu de Gex Cheese shows milder and younger than most french blue cheeses, while Wagashi Cheese leans toward consumed fried or cooked in sauces, rarely fresh. Aging plays into this as well. Bleu de Gex Cheese at 3 weeks minimum develops a different profile than Wagashi Cheese at fresh or dried.

Can You Substitute Bleu de Gex Cheese for Wagashi Cheese?

In most recipes, Bleu de Gex Cheese and Wagashi Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect creamy bite and body where the recipe calls for compact. Flavor-wise, Bleu de Gex Cheese reads as mild, with a hint of mushroom while Wagashi Cheese brings mild notes.

Which Is Better, Bleu de Gex Cheese or Wagashi Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a creamy cheese, go with Bleu de Gex Cheese. For a compact profile, Wagashi Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Bleu de Gex Cheese suits recipes that want mild, with a hint of mushroom notes, while Wagashi Cheese fits dishes calling for mild.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bleu de Gex Cheese the same as Wagashi Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Bleu de Gex Cheese is typically aged 3 weeks minimum, Wagashi Cheese fresh or dried.

Is Bleu de Gex Cheese similar to Wagashi Cheese?

Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.

Can I substitute Bleu de Gex Cheese for Wagashi Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Does Bleu de Gex Cheese taste like Wagashi Cheese?

Bleu de Gex Cheese reads as mild, with a hint of mushroom, while Wagashi Cheese is mild.

What is Bleu de Gex Cheese made of?

Bleu de Gex Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 3 weeks minimum. It originates in France.

What is Wagashi Cheese made of?

Wagashi Cheese is made from cow milk (heated), using calotropis procera latex rennet. It's typically aged fresh or dried.

Which should I choose, Bleu de Gex Cheese or Wagashi Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Bleu de Gex Cheese is creamy, while Wagashi Cheese is compact.