Brin d'Amour Cheese vs Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese
Brin d'Amour Cheese is a soft to firm sheep-milk cheese from France, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy and made from cow milk.
What Is Brin d'Amour Cheese?
Brin d'amour is a Corsican raw sheep's milk cheese created in the 1950s. It is known for a natural rind dusted with herbs of the maquis, which pass their flavor into the soft ivory paste as the cheese ages.
What Is Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio is a long-aged Parmigiano Reggiano, the hard granular cow's milk cheese of Parma and Reggio Emilia. It is dry and grainy, with the sharp, salty, savory taste that makes it a grating cheese.
What's the Difference Between Brin d'Amour Cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
- Milk type: Brin d'Amour Cheese (sheep's milk), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (cow)
- Texture: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Soft to firm), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (hard, dry and grainy)
- Taste: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Earthy), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (sharp, salty and savory)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Brin d'Amour Cheese | Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | — |
| Specific Origin | Corsica, France | Parma And Reggio Emilia, Italy |
| Milk Type | Sheep's milk | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Raw |
| Texture | Soft to firm | Hard, dry and grainy |
| Rind | Natural | — |
| Aging | 1 to 3 months | — |
| Taste | Earthy | Sharp, salty and savory |
Taste Comparison: Does Brin d'Amour Cheese Taste Like Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory character. More specifically, Brin d'Amour Cheese shows pronounced milk flavor, intensifies with age; herb influence grows, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese leans toward strong umami from a high glutamate content.
Can You Substitute Brin d'Amour Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
Brin d'Amour Cheese can stand in for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft to firm bite and body where the recipe calls for hard, dry and grainy. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory notes.
Which Is Better, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft to firm cheese, go with Brin d'Amour Cheese. For a hard, dry and grainy profile, Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese suits recipes that want earthy notes, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp, salty and savory.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brin d'Amour Cheese the same as Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Brin d'Amour Cheese is made from sheep milk; Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese uses cow.
Is Brin d'Amour Cheese similar to Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Brin d'Amour Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Brin d'Amour Cheese taste like Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is sharp, salty and savory.
What is Brin d'Amour Cheese made of?
Brin d'Amour Cheese is made from sheep milk (raw). It's typically aged 1 to 3 months. It originates in France.
What is Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese made of?
Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal (calf) rennet.
Which should I choose, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brin d'Amour Cheese is soft to firm, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy.