Brin d'Amour Cheese vs Pecorino Crotonese Cheese

Brin d'Amour Cheese is a soft to firm sheep-milk cheese from France, while Pecorino Crotonese Cheese is fresh - soft, regular, creamy; semi-hard - firm; ripened - slightly straw-colored, firm and made from sheep 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 Pecorino Crotonese Cheese?

Pecorino Crotonese is an Italian sheep's milk cheese and one of the pecorino varieties registered with the EU as a protected designation of origin. Pecorino is the family name for Italy's sheep's milk cheeses, and every region makes its own.

What's the Difference Between Brin d'Amour Cheese and Pecorino Crotonese Cheese?

• Texture: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Soft to firm), Pecorino Crotonese Cheese (Fresh - soft, regular, creamy; Semi-hard - firm; Ripened - slightly straw-colored, firm)
• Rind: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Natural), Pecorino Crotonese Cheese (Fresh - thin; Semi-hard - thick, light brown; Ripened - hard, brown, may be coated with olive oil or olive dregs)
• Aging: Brin d'Amour Cheese (1 to 3 months), Pecorino Crotonese Cheese (Fresh, semi-hard, ripened (more than six months for ripened))
• Taste: Brin d'Amour Cheese (Earthy), Pecorino Crotonese Cheese (Distinct, smooth, slightly tangy (fresh); Intense, well-balanced (semi-hard); Intense, distinct, slight piquant aftertaste (ripened))

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Brin d'Amour Cheese Taste Like Pecorino Crotonese Cheese?

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Pecorino Crotonese Cheese brings distinct, smooth, slightly tangy (fresh); intense, well-balanced (semi-hard); intense, distinct, slight piquant aftertaste (ripened) character. On the nose, Brin d'Amour Cheese offers herbaceous, contrasted with Pecorino Crotonese Cheese's light scent of sheep's milk mixed with hay, mature wild grasses, hazelnut, and smoke. More specifically, Brin d'Amour Cheese shows pronounced milk flavor, intensifies with age; herb influence grows, while Pecorino Crotonese Cheese leans toward sheep's milk, hay, mature wild grasses, hazelnut, smoke. Aging plays into this as well. Brin d'Amour Cheese at 1 to 3 months develops a different profile than Pecorino Crotonese Cheese at fresh, semi-hard, ripened (more than six months for ripened).

Can You Substitute Brin d'Amour Cheese for Pecorino Crotonese Cheese?

In most recipes, Brin d'Amour Cheese and Pecorino Crotonese Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are sheep-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect soft to firm bite and body where the recipe calls for fresh - soft, regular, creamy; semi-hard - firm; ripened - slightly straw-colored, firm. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy while Pecorino Crotonese Cheese brings distinct, smooth, slightly tangy (fresh); intense, well-balanced (semi-hard); intense, distinct, slight piquant aftertaste (ripened) notes.

Which Is Better, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Pecorino Crotonese 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 fresh - soft, regular, creamy; semi-hard - firm; ripened - slightly straw-colored, firm profile, Pecorino Crotonese Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brin d'Amour Cheese suits recipes that want earthy notes, while Pecorino Crotonese Cheese fits dishes calling for distinct, smooth, slightly tangy (fresh); intense, well-balanced (semi-hard); intense, distinct, slight piquant aftertaste (ripened).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brin d'Amour Cheese the same as Pecorino Crotonese Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Brin d'Amour Cheese is typically aged 1 to 3 months, Pecorino Crotonese Cheese fresh, semi-hard, ripened (more than six months for ripened).

Is Brin d'Amour Cheese similar to Pecorino Crotonese Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Brin d'Amour Cheese for Pecorino Crotonese Cheese?

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

Does Brin d'Amour Cheese taste like Pecorino Crotonese Cheese?

Brin d'Amour Cheese reads as earthy, while Pecorino Crotonese Cheese is distinct, smooth, slightly tangy (fresh); intense, well-balanced (semi-hard); intense, distinct, slight piquant aftertaste (ripened). Aromas also diverge. Brin d'Amour Cheese leans herbaceous, and Pecorino Crotonese Cheese is closer to light scent of sheep's milk mixed with hay, mature wild grasses, hazelnut, and smoke.

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 Pecorino Crotonese Cheese made of?

Pecorino Crotonese Cheese is made from sheep milk (raw, thermised, or pasteurised), using kid rennet pas rennet. It's typically aged fresh, semi-hard, ripened (more than six months for ripened).

Which should I choose, Brin d'Amour Cheese or Pecorino Crotonese Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brin d'Amour Cheese is soft to firm, while Pecorino Crotonese Cheese is fresh - soft, regular, creamy; semi-hard - firm; ripened - slightly straw-colored, firm.