Blue Cheese vs Grevé Cheese
Blue Cheese is a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from France, while Grevé Cheese is semi-hard and made from cow milk, originating in Sweden.
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 Grevé Cheese?
Grevé is a Swedish cow's milk cheese built along the lines of Emmental, first produced in 1964 at Örnsköldsvik. It is semi-hard, tastes nut-like and slightly sweet, and carries a fat content of 30 to 45 percent.
What's the Difference Between Blue Cheese and Grevé Cheese?
- Origin: Blue Cheese (France), Grevé Cheese (Sweden)
- Milk type: Blue Cheese (Cow, Sheep, Goat), Grevé Cheese (cow's milk)
- Texture: Blue Cheese (Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft), Grevé Cheese (semi-hard)
- Rind: Blue Cheese (Natural), Grevé Cheese (waxed)
- Taste: Blue Cheese (Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent), Grevé Cheese (mild, nutty)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Blue Cheese | Grevé Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | Sweden |
| Specific Origin | — | Örnsköldsvik, Västernorrland County, Sweden |
| Milk Type | Cow, Sheep, Goat | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or Raw | — |
| Texture | Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft | Semi-hard |
| Rind | Natural | Waxed |
| Aging | Typically aged 2-6 months | — |
| Taste | Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent | Mild, nutty |
Taste Comparison: Does Blue Cheese Taste Like Grevé Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Grevé Cheese brings mild, nutty character. More specifically, Blue Cheese shows earthy, spicy, peppery, slightly sweet, umami, nutty, bitter, while Grevé Cheese leans toward nut-like, slightly sweet.
Can You Substitute Blue Cheese for Grevé Cheese?
Blue Cheese can stand in for Grevé 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 semi-hard. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent while Grevé Cheese brings mild, nutty notes.
Which Is Better, Blue Cheese or Grevé 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 semi-hard profile, Grevé Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese suits recipes that want sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent notes, while Grevé Cheese fits dishes calling for mild, nutty.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue Cheese the same as Grevé Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Blue Cheese originates in France, while Grevé Cheese comes from Sweden. Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Grevé Cheese uses cow.
Is Blue Cheese similar to Grevé Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Blue Cheese for Grevé Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Blue Cheese taste like Grevé Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Grevé Cheese is mild, nutty.
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 Grevé Cheese made of?
Grevé Cheese is made from cow milk. It originates in Sweden.
Which should I choose, Blue Cheese or Grevé Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Blue Cheese is crumbly, creamy, semi-soft, while Grevé Cheese is semi-hard.