Brocciu Cheese vs Mont d'Or Cheese

Brocciu Cheese is a soft, creamy goat or sheep-milk cheese from France, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft and made from cow milk, originating in France.

What Is Brocciu Cheese?

Brocciu is a Corsican cheese made from a mix of whey and ewe's milk. It is eaten fresh or ripened for a few weeks, and it holds less lactose than Italian ricotta, which it often replaces.

What Is Mont d'Or Cheese?

Mont d'Or is a seasonal soft cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of France and Switzerland, wrapped in a band of spruce that gives it its flavor. It sells from September 10 to May 10 and is usually warmed in its spruce box and eaten like fondue.

What's the Difference Between Brocciu Cheese and Mont d'Or Cheese?

• Milk type: Brocciu Cheese (goat's or sheep's milk), Mont d'Or Cheese (Cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Brocciu Cheese (pasteurized), Mont d'Or Cheese (Raw)
• Texture: Brocciu Cheese (Soft, creamy), Mont d'Or Cheese (Soft)
• Rind: Brocciu Cheese (None), Mont d'Or Cheese (Washed rind)
• Aging: Brocciu Cheese (Fresh or matured), Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days)
• Taste: Brocciu Cheese (Meltingly creamy, saltier when matured), Mont d'Or Cheese (Resinous, mild to pungent)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Brocciu Cheese Taste Like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Brocciu Cheese reads as meltingly creamy, saltier when matured, while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent character. More specifically, Brocciu Cheese shows creamy, delicious aroma; becomes saltier and more intense when matured, while Mont d'Or Cheese leans toward known for its creamy taste and powerful aroma; gets resinous flavor from spruce bark. Aging plays into this as well. Brocciu Cheese at fresh or matured develops a different profile than Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days.

Can You Substitute Brocciu Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

Brocciu Cheese can stand in for Mont d'Or Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft, creamy bite and body where the recipe calls for soft. Flavor-wise, Brocciu Cheese reads as meltingly creamy, saltier when matured while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent notes.

Which Is Better, Brocciu Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft, creamy cheese, go with Brocciu Cheese. For a soft profile, Mont d'Or Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brocciu Cheese suits recipes that want meltingly creamy, saltier when matured notes, while Mont d'Or Cheese fits dishes calling for resinous, mild to pungent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brocciu Cheese the same as Mont d'Or Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brocciu Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk; Mont d'Or Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Brocciu Cheese is typically aged fresh or matured, Mont d'Or Cheese 21 to 60 days.

Is Brocciu Cheese similar to Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Brocciu Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Does Brocciu Cheese taste like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Brocciu Cheese reads as meltingly creamy, saltier when matured, while Mont d'Or Cheese is resinous, mild to pungent.

What is Brocciu Cheese made of?

Brocciu Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged fresh or matured. It originates in France.

What is Mont d'Or Cheese made of?

Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 21 to 60 days. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Brocciu Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brocciu Cheese is soft, creamy, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft.