Blue Cheese vs Havarti Cheese
Blue Cheese
Havarti Cheese
Blue Cheese is a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from France, while Havarti Cheese is smooth and made from cow milk, originating in Denmark.
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 Havarti Cheese?
Havarti is a semisoft Danish cow's milk cheese, mild and buttery with very small irregular eyes running through a rindless, cream to yellow paste. It slices, grills, and melts, and the EU reserved the name for Denmark in 2019.
What's the Difference Between Blue Cheese and Havarti Cheese?
- Origin: Blue Cheese (France), Havarti Cheese (Denmark)
- Milk type: Blue Cheese (Cow, Sheep, Goat), Havarti Cheese (cow's milk)
- Milk treatment: Blue Cheese (Pasteurized or Raw), Havarti Cheese (pasteurized)
- Texture: Blue Cheese (Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft), Havarti Cheese (Smooth)
- Rind: Blue Cheese (Natural), Havarti Cheese (rindless)
- Aging: Blue Cheese (Typically aged 2-6 months), Havarti Cheese (about 3 months)
- Taste: Blue Cheese (Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent), Havarti Cheese (Mild, buttery)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Blue Cheese | Havarti Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | Denmark |
| Specific Origin | — | Denmark |
| Milk Type | Cow, Sheep, Goat | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or Raw | Pasteurized |
| Texture | Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft | Smooth |
| Rind | Natural | Rindless |
| Aging | Typically aged 2-6 months | About 3 months |
| Taste | Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent | Mild, buttery |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese: wines, foods, breads and more.
| Blue Cheese | Havarti Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Pairs well with | Amaro, Apricot, Asian Pear, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dirty Martini, Dried Figs, Fig Jam, German Riesling, Green Apple, Hard Cider, Honey, Honeycomb and more | Kolsch, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Apples, Asian Pear, Asparagus, Belgian Blonde, California Viogniers, Champagne, Crackers, Dirty Martini, Green Apple and more |
Taste Comparison: Does Blue Cheese Taste Like Havarti Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Havarti Cheese brings mild, buttery character. On the nose, Blue Cheese offers strong, pungent, earthy, funky, contrasted with Havarti Cheese's buttery. More specifically, Blue Cheese shows earthy, spicy, peppery, slightly sweet, umami, nutty, bitter, while Havarti Cheese leans toward mild, buttery, slightly acidic cheese known for its irregularly shaped small holes creating a lacy appearance. smooth and firm texture, can be complimented with herbs or jalapeño peppers. variants include creamy versions with up to 65% fat on dry matter basis. manufactured in denmark, united kingdom, canada, and the united states, including artisanal and mass-produced by arla foods and costello.. Aging plays into this as well. Blue Cheese at typically aged 2-6 months develops a different profile than Havarti Cheese at about 3 months.
Can You Substitute Blue Cheese for Havarti Cheese?
Blue Cheese can stand in for Havarti 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 smooth. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent while Havarti Cheese brings mild, buttery notes.
Which Is Better, Blue Cheese or Havarti 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 smooth profile, Havarti Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese suits recipes that want sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent notes, while Havarti Cheese fits dishes calling for mild, buttery.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue Cheese the same as Havarti Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Blue Cheese originates in France, while Havarti Cheese comes from Denmark. Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Havarti Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Blue Cheese is typically aged typically aged 2-6 months, Havarti Cheese about 3 months.
Is Blue Cheese similar to Havarti Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Blue Cheese for Havarti Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Blue Cheese taste like Havarti Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Havarti Cheese is mild, buttery. Aromas also diverge. Blue Cheese leans strong, pungent, earthy, funky, and Havarti Cheese is closer to buttery.
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 Havarti Cheese made of?
Havarti Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged about 3 months. It originates in Denmark.
Which should I choose, Blue Cheese or Havarti Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Blue Cheese is crumbly, creamy, semi-soft, while Havarti Cheese is smooth.