Bleu des Causses Cheese vs Queso de Flor de Guía

Bleu des Causses Cheese is a semisoft; blue-veined cow-milk cheese from France, while Queso de Flor de Guía is dense, compact, pasty and made from cow, goat, and sheep milk.

What Is Bleu des Causses Cheese?

Bleu des Causses is an aromatic blue cheese from the high plateaus of Aveyron in Southern France. Similar in production to Roquefort, it is made from cow’s milk, giving it a creamier texture and a milder, less salty flavor. This cheese has distinct blue veins and a bold, tangy taste, ideal for adding character to dishes or enjoying with robust red wines.

What Is Queso de Flor de Guía?

Queso de Flor de Guía is a full-fat or half-fat cheese from Spain, specifically produced in Gáldar, Moya, and Santa María de Guía in Gran Canaria. It is made primarily from Canary Island sheep’s milk, with up to 40% Canary Island cattle milk and up to 10% Canary Island goat milk. The milk is curdled exclusively using vegetable rennet derived from the dried flower heads of Cynara cardunculus var. ferocissima and Cynara scolymus. The cheese has a cylindrical shape and varies in size from 0.5 to 5 kg. Its texture is dense, compact, and pasty, with a very soft and creamy interior when semi-mature and a harder body when fully matured. The flavor is highly aromatic, acidic, and bitter, with mild burning and astringent sensations. It matures for at least 15 days for semi-mature cheese and over 60 days for mature cheese.

What's the Difference Between Bleu des Causses Cheese and Queso de Flor de Guía?

• Milk type: Bleu des Causses Cheese (Cow’s milk), Queso de Flor de Guía (Sheep (Canary Island breed), with up to 40% cow and 10% goat milk)
• Texture: Bleu des Causses Cheese (Semisoft; Blue-veined), Queso de Flor de Guía (Dense, compact, pasty)
• Aging: Bleu des Causses Cheese (At least 70 days and not more than 190 days), Queso de Flor de Guía (15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature))
• Taste: Bleu des Causses Cheese (Sweet yet spicy, not too salty or bitter), Queso de Flor de Guía (Aromatic, acidic, and bitter)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Bleu des Causses Cheese Taste Like Queso de Flor de Guía?

Bleu des Causses Cheese reads as sweet yet spicy, not too salty or bitter, while Queso de Flor de Guía brings aromatic, acidic, and bitter character. On the nose, Bleu des Causses Cheese offers sophisticated bouquet, contrasted with Queso de Flor de Guía's medium intensity, with lactic and vegetal notes. More specifically, Bleu des Causses Cheese shows sweet yet spicy, melting powerfully in the mouth, while Queso de Flor de Guía leans toward lactic, vegetal (cardoon and nuts). Aging plays into this as well. Bleu des Causses Cheese at at least 70 days and not more than 190 days develops a different profile than Queso de Flor de Guía at 15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature).

Can You Substitute Bleu des Causses Cheese for Queso de Flor de Guía?

Bleu des Causses Cheese can stand in for Queso de Flor de Guía in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect semisoft; blue-veined bite and body where the recipe calls for dense, compact, pasty. Flavor-wise, Bleu des Causses Cheese reads as sweet yet spicy, not too salty or bitter while Queso de Flor de Guía brings aromatic, acidic, and bitter notes.

Which Is Better, Bleu des Causses Cheese or Queso de Flor de Guía?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semisoft; blue-veined cheese, go with Bleu des Causses Cheese. For a dense, compact, pasty profile, Queso de Flor de Guía is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Bleu des Causses Cheese suits recipes that want sweet yet spicy, not too salty or bitter notes, while Queso de Flor de Guía fits dishes calling for aromatic, acidic, and bitter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bleu des Causses Cheese the same as Queso de Flor de Guía?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Bleu des Causses Cheese is made from cow milk; Queso de Flor de Guía uses cow, goat, and sheep. Aging also differs: Bleu des Causses Cheese is typically aged at least 70 days and not more than 190 days, Queso de Flor de Guía 15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature).

Is Bleu des Causses Cheese similar to Queso de Flor de Guía?

Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.

Can I substitute Bleu des Causses Cheese for Queso de Flor de Guía?

You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.

Does Bleu des Causses Cheese taste like Queso de Flor de Guía?

Bleu des Causses Cheese reads as sweet yet spicy, not too salty or bitter, while Queso de Flor de Guía is aromatic, acidic, and bitter. Aromas also diverge. Bleu des Causses Cheese leans sophisticated bouquet, and Queso de Flor de Guía is closer to medium intensity, with lactic and vegetal notes.

What is Bleu des Causses Cheese made of?

Bleu des Causses Cheese is made from cow milk (raw). It's typically aged at least 70 days and not more than 190 days. It originates in France.

What is Queso de Flor de Guía made of?

Queso de Flor de Guía is made from cow, goat, and sheep milk, using vegetable (cynara cardunculus var. ferocissima, cynara scolymus) rennet. It's typically aged 15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature).

Which should I choose, Bleu des Causses Cheese or Queso de Flor de Guía?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Bleu des Causses Cheese is semisoft; blue-veined, while Queso de Flor de Guía is dense, compact, pasty.