Brie Cheese vs Montasio Cheese

Q: Is Brie Cheese the same as Montasio Cheese?

No. Brie Cheese and Montasio Cheese are distinct cheeses from France and Italy respectively. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Brie Cheese for Montasio Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Brie Cheese for Montasio Cheese, though the result will shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Q: Which should I choose, Brie Cheese or Montasio Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture and flavor rows in the table above are the best guide. Pick the one whose profile fits your recipe or board.

Brie Cheese

Montasio Cheese

Brie Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Montasio Cheese is elastic to crumbly and hard and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.

What Is Brie Cheese?

Brie is a soft cow's milk cheese named after the French region it comes from, pale under a white mould rind. It runs 60 to 75 percent butterfat and tastes creamy, nutty and mushroom-like, with a faint acidity. The rind is eaten along with the paste.

What Is Montasio Cheese?

Montasio is a cow's milk mountain cheese from Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto in northeastern Italy, made on the Montasio plateau since 1200. It is semi-hard and creamy when young, and harder after longer aging.

What's the Difference Between Brie Cheese and Montasio Cheese?

Origin: Brie Cheese (France), Montasio Cheese (Italy)
Milk treatment: Brie Cheese (Raw, Pasteurized), Montasio Cheese (unpasteurized)
Texture: Brie Cheese (Soft), Montasio Cheese (Elastic to crumbly and hard)
Rind: Brie Cheese (Bloomy), Montasio Cheese (natural)
Aging: Brie Cheese (at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir), Montasio Cheese (Fresco: 60-120 days; Mezzano: 120 days-10 months; Stagionato: 10-18 months; Stravecchio: over 18 months)
Taste: Brie Cheese (Nutty, Mushroom), Montasio Cheese (Mild, creamy, and fruity to savory, piquant, with hints of spice)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Brie Cheese	Montasio Cheese
Country of Origin	France	Italy
Specific Origin	Brie	Fruili-Venezia Giulia And Parts Of Belluno, Treviso, Padua, And Venice In Veneto
Milk Type	Cow's milk	Cow's milk
Milk Treatment	Raw, Pasteurized	Unpasteurized
Texture	Soft	Elastic to crumbly and hard
Rind	Bloomy	Natural
Aging	At least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir	Fresco: 60-120 days; Mezzano: 120 days-10 months; Stagionato: 10-18 months; Stravecchio: over 18 months
Taste	Nutty, Mushroom	Mild, creamy, and fruity to savory, piquant, with hints of spice

Taste Comparison: Does Brie Cheese Taste Like Montasio Cheese?

Brie Cheese reads as nutty, mushroom, while Montasio Cheese brings mild, creamy, and fruity to savory, piquant, with hints of spice character. On the nose, Brie Cheese offers ammoniated when overripe, contrasted with Montasio Cheese's aromatic, pleasant. More specifically, Brie Cheese shows creamy, nutty, mushroom-like, slightly acidic, while Montasio Cheese leans toward evolves from mild, creamy, and fruity to fuller, more savory and piquant, with hints of spice as it ages. Aging plays into this as well. Brie Cheese at at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir develops a different profile than Montasio Cheese at fresco: 60-120 days; mezzano: 120 days-10 months; stagionato: 10-18 months; stravecchio: over 18 months.

Can You Substitute Brie Cheese for Montasio Cheese?

In most recipes, Brie Cheese and Montasio Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for elastic to crumbly and hard. Flavor-wise, Brie Cheese reads as nutty, mushroom while Montasio Cheese brings mild, creamy, and fruity to savory, piquant, with hints of spice notes.

Which Is Better, Brie Cheese or Montasio Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Brie Cheese. For a elastic to crumbly and hard profile, Montasio Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brie Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, mushroom notes, while Montasio Cheese fits dishes calling for mild, creamy, and fruity to savory, piquant, with hints of spice.

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brie Cheese the same as Montasio Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brie Cheese originates in France, while Montasio Cheese comes from Italy. Aging also differs: Brie Cheese is typically aged at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir, Montasio Cheese fresco: 60-120 days; mezzano: 120 days-10 months; stagionato: 10-18 months; stravecchio: over 18 months.

Is Brie Cheese similar to Montasio Cheese?

Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.

Can I substitute Brie Cheese for Montasio Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Does Brie Cheese taste like Montasio Cheese?

Brie Cheese reads as nutty, mushroom, while Montasio Cheese is mild, creamy, and fruity to savory, piquant, with hints of spice. Aromas also diverge. Brie Cheese leans ammoniated when overripe, and Montasio Cheese is closer to aromatic, pleasant.

What is Brie Cheese made of?

Brie Cheese is made from cow milk (raw, pasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir. It originates in France.

What is Montasio Cheese made of?

Montasio Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged fresco: 60-120 days; mezzano: 120 days-10 months; stagionato: 10-18 months; stravecchio: over 18 months. It originates in Italy.

Which should I choose, Brie Cheese or Montasio Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brie Cheese is soft, while Montasio Cheese is elastic to crumbly and hard.