Bread Cheese vs L'Etivaz Cheese
Bread Cheese is a squeaky cow or goat-milk cheese from Finland, while L'Etivaz Cheese is hard and made from cow milk, originating in Switzerland.
What Is Bread Cheese?
Bread cheese, or leipäjuusto, is a Finnish fresh cheese traditionally made from cow's colostrum and baked until the surface browns. It has a mild flavor, squeaks against the teeth, and is usually eaten in slices with coffee.
What Is L'Etivaz Cheese?
L'Etivaz is a hard raw cow's milk cheese from the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, made only during the summer Alpine grazing season in copper cauldrons over wood fires. It tastes close to Gruyère surchoix, fruity and slightly nutty.
What's the Difference Between Bread Cheese and L'Etivaz Cheese?
- Origin: Bread Cheese (Finland), L'Etivaz Cheese (Switzerland)
- Milk type: Bread Cheese (cow, goat), L'Etivaz Cheese (cow's milk)
- Texture: Bread Cheese (squeaky), L'Etivaz Cheese (hard)
- Aging: Bread Cheese (fresh), L'Etivaz Cheese (5 to 13 months)
- Taste: Bread Cheese (mild), L'Etivaz Cheese (fruity, slightly nutty)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Bread Cheese | L'Etivaz Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Finland | Switzerland |
| Specific Origin | Southern Ostrobothnia, Northern Finland And Kainuu, Finland | Vaud, Switzerland |
| Milk Type | Cow, goat | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | — | Unpasteurized |
| Texture | Squeaky | Hard |
| Aging | Fresh | 5 to 13 months |
| Taste | Mild | Fruity, slightly nutty |
Taste Comparison: Does Bread Cheese Taste Like L'Etivaz Cheese?
Bread Cheese reads as mild, while L'Etivaz Cheese brings fruity, slightly nutty character. On the nose, Bread Cheese offers appetizing when heated, contrasted with L'Etivaz Cheese's smokey. Aging plays into this as well. Bread Cheese at fresh develops a different profile than L'Etivaz Cheese at 5 to 13 months.
Can You Substitute Bread Cheese for L'Etivaz Cheese?
Bread Cheese can stand in for L'Etivaz Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect squeaky bite and body where the recipe calls for hard. Flavor-wise, Bread Cheese reads as mild while L'Etivaz Cheese brings fruity, slightly nutty notes.
Which Is Better, Bread Cheese or L'Etivaz Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a squeaky cheese, go with Bread Cheese. For a hard profile, L'Etivaz Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Bread Cheese suits recipes that want mild notes, while L'Etivaz Cheese fits dishes calling for fruity, slightly nutty.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bread Cheese the same as L'Etivaz Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Bread Cheese originates in Finland, while L'Etivaz Cheese comes from Switzerland. Bread Cheese is made from cow or goat milk; L'Etivaz Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Bread Cheese is typically aged fresh, L'Etivaz Cheese 5 to 13 months.
Is Bread Cheese similar to L'Etivaz Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Bread Cheese for L'Etivaz Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Bread Cheese taste like L'Etivaz Cheese?
Bread Cheese reads as mild, while L'Etivaz Cheese is fruity, slightly nutty. Aromas also diverge. Bread Cheese leans appetizing when heated, and L'Etivaz Cheese is closer to smokey.
What is Bread Cheese made of?
Bread Cheese is made from cow or goat milk. It's typically aged fresh. It originates in Finland.
What is L'Etivaz Cheese made of?
L'Etivaz Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized). It's typically aged 5 to 13 months. It originates in Switzerland.
Which should I choose, Bread Cheese or L'Etivaz Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Bread Cheese is squeaky, while L'Etivaz Cheese is hard.