Blue Cheese vs Chaumes Cheese
Blue Cheese is a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from France, while Chaumes Cheese is soft, semi-soft, soft-ripened and made from cow milk, originating in France.
What Is Blue Cheese?
Blue cheese is any cheese made with edible mold cultures that form blue-green spots and veins through the paste. It ranges from mild and slightly sweet to salty and sharp, and from almost liquid to hard.
What Is Chaumes Cheese?
Chaumes is a cow's milk cheese from Saint-Antoine-de-Breuilh in the Périgord, south west France, built on traditional Trappist-style cheesemaking. It is known for its bright tangerine-orange washed rind, full-bodied flavour and smooth, faintly rubbery texture.
What's the Difference Between Blue Cheese and Chaumes Cheese?
- Milk type: Blue Cheese (Cow, Sheep, Goat), Chaumes Cheese (cow's milk)
- Milk treatment: Blue Cheese (Pasteurized or Raw), Chaumes Cheese (pasteurized)
- Texture: Blue Cheese (Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft), Chaumes Cheese (soft, semi-soft, soft-ripened)
- Rind: Blue Cheese (Natural), Chaumes Cheese (washed)
- Aging: Blue Cheese (Typically aged 2-6 months), Chaumes Cheese (4 weeks)
- Taste: Blue Cheese (Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent), Chaumes Cheese (full-flavored, nutty)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Blue Cheese | Chaumes Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | France |
| Specific Origin | — | St Antoine |
| Milk Type | Cow, Sheep, Goat | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or Raw | Pasteurized |
| Texture | Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft | Soft, semi-soft, soft-ripened |
| Rind | Natural | Washed |
| Aging | Typically aged 2-6 months | 4 weeks |
| Taste | Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent | Full-flavored, nutty |
Taste Comparison: Does Blue Cheese Taste Like Chaumes Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Chaumes Cheese brings full-flavored, nutty character. On the nose, Blue Cheese offers strong, pungent, earthy, funky, contrasted with Chaumes Cheese's aromatic, strong. More specifically, Blue Cheese shows earthy, spicy, peppery, slightly sweet, umami, nutty, bitter, while Chaumes Cheese leans toward rich and full-bodied. Aging plays into this as well. Blue Cheese at typically aged 2-6 months develops a different profile than Chaumes Cheese at 4 weeks.
Can You Substitute Blue Cheese for Chaumes Cheese?
Blue Cheese can stand in for Chaumes Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect crumbly, creamy, semi-soft bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, semi-soft, soft-ripened. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent while Chaumes Cheese brings full-flavored, nutty notes.
Which Is Better, Blue Cheese or Chaumes Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cheese, go with Blue Cheese. For a soft, semi-soft, soft-ripened profile, Chaumes Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese suits recipes that want sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent notes, while Chaumes Cheese fits dishes calling for full-flavored, nutty.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue Cheese the same as Chaumes Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Chaumes Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Blue Cheese is typically aged typically aged 2-6 months, Chaumes Cheese 4 weeks.
Is Blue Cheese similar to Chaumes Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Blue Cheese for Chaumes Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Blue Cheese taste like Chaumes Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Chaumes Cheese is full-flavored, nutty. Aromas also diverge. Blue Cheese leans strong, pungent, earthy, funky, and Chaumes Cheese is closer to aromatic, strong.
What is Blue Cheese made of?
Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (pasteurized or raw), using traditional (animal rennet) or microbial (varies by producer) rennet. It's typically aged typically aged 2-6 months. It originates in France.
What is Chaumes Cheese made of?
Chaumes Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 4 weeks. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Blue Cheese or Chaumes Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Blue Cheese is crumbly, creamy, semi-soft, while Chaumes Cheese is soft, semi-soft, soft-ripened.