Blue Cheese vs Shropshire Blue Cheese

Blue Cheese is a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from France, while Shropshire Blue Cheese is semi-hard and made from cow milk, originating in United Kingdom.

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 Shropshire Blue Cheese?

Shropshire Blue is a British blue cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk, coloured orange with annatto and veined with Penicillium roqueforti. It is made much like Stilton but tastes sharper, and it matures for 10 to 12 weeks.

What's the Difference Between Blue Cheese and Shropshire Blue Cheese?

• Origin: Blue Cheese (France), Shropshire Blue Cheese (United Kingdom)
• Milk type: Blue Cheese (Cow, Sheep, Goat), Shropshire Blue Cheese (cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Blue Cheese (Pasteurized or Raw), Shropshire Blue Cheese (pasteurized)
• Texture: Blue Cheese (Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft), Shropshire Blue Cheese (semi-hard)
• Rind: Blue Cheese (Natural), Shropshire Blue Cheese (natural)
• Aging: Blue Cheese (Typically aged 2-6 months), Shropshire Blue Cheese (10 to 12 weeks)
• Taste: Blue Cheese (Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent), Shropshire Blue Cheese (sharp and strong)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Blue Cheese Taste Like Shropshire Blue Cheese?

Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Shropshire Blue Cheese brings sharp and strong character. On the nose, Blue Cheese offers strong, pungent, earthy, funky, contrasted with Shropshire Blue Cheese's slightly tangy. More specifically, Blue Cheese shows earthy, spicy, peppery, slightly sweet, umami, nutty, bitter, while Shropshire Blue Cheese leans toward sharp, strong, slightly sour, sharper than stilton, creamy. Aging plays into this as well. Blue Cheese at typically aged 2-6 months develops a different profile than Shropshire Blue Cheese at 10 to 12 weeks.

Can You Substitute Blue Cheese for Shropshire Blue Cheese?

Blue Cheese can stand in for Shropshire Blue 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 Shropshire Blue Cheese brings sharp and strong notes.

Which Is Better, Blue Cheese or Shropshire Blue 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, Shropshire Blue Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese suits recipes that want sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent notes, while Shropshire Blue Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp and strong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Blue Cheese the same as Shropshire Blue Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Blue Cheese originates in France, while Shropshire Blue Cheese comes from United Kingdom. Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Shropshire Blue Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Blue Cheese is typically aged typically aged 2-6 months, Shropshire Blue Cheese 10 to 12 weeks.

Is Blue Cheese similar to Shropshire Blue Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Blue Cheese for Shropshire Blue Cheese?

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

Does Blue Cheese taste like Shropshire Blue Cheese?

Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Shropshire Blue Cheese is sharp and strong. Aromas also diverge. Blue Cheese leans strong, pungent, earthy, funky, and Shropshire Blue Cheese is closer to slightly tangy.

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 Shropshire Blue Cheese made of?

Shropshire Blue Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized), using vegetable rennet. It's typically aged 10 to 12 weeks. It originates in United Kingdom.

Which should I choose, Blue Cheese or Shropshire Blue Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Blue Cheese is crumbly, creamy, semi-soft, while Shropshire Blue Cheese is semi-hard.