Brocciu Cheese vs Roumy Cheese
Brocciu Cheese is a soft, creamy goat or sheep-milk cheese from France, while Roumy Cheese is hard and made from cow and buffalo milk, originating in Egypt.
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 Roumy Cheese?
Rumi, also spelled Roumy, is the main hard cheese of Egypt, made from cow's or buffalo milk with no starter culture. Three to four months of aging give it an open texture, a pungent smell and a sharp flavor that gets saltier with age.
What's the Difference Between Brocciu Cheese and Roumy Cheese?
- Origin: Brocciu Cheese (France), Roumy Cheese (Egypt)
- Milk type: Brocciu Cheese (goat's or sheep's milk), Roumy Cheese (cow's and water buffalo's milk)
- Texture: Brocciu Cheese (Soft, creamy), Roumy Cheese (hard)
- Rind: Brocciu Cheese (None), Roumy Cheese (natural)
- Aging: Brocciu Cheese (Fresh or matured), Roumy Cheese (3 to 4 months)
- Taste: Brocciu Cheese (Meltingly creamy, saltier when matured), Roumy Cheese (salty, sharp, strong)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Brocciu Cheese | Roumy Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | Egypt |
| Specific Origin | Corsica | Egypt |
| Milk Type | Goat's or sheep's milk | Cow's and water buffalo's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized | — |
| Texture | Soft, creamy | Hard |
| Rind | None | Natural |
| Aging | Fresh or matured | 3 to 4 months |
| Taste | Meltingly creamy, saltier when matured | Salty, sharp, strong |
Taste Comparison: Does Brocciu Cheese Taste Like Roumy Cheese?
Brocciu Cheese reads as meltingly creamy, saltier when matured, while Roumy Cheese brings salty, sharp, strong character. On the nose, Brocciu Cheese offers delicious, contrasted with Roumy Cheese's pungent. Aging plays into this as well. Brocciu Cheese at fresh or matured develops a different profile than Roumy Cheese at 3 to 4 months.
Can You Substitute Brocciu Cheese for Roumy Cheese?
Brocciu Cheese can stand in for Roumy 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 hard. Flavor-wise, Brocciu Cheese reads as meltingly creamy, saltier when matured while Roumy Cheese brings salty, sharp, strong notes.
Which Is Better, Brocciu Cheese or Roumy 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 hard profile, Roumy Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brocciu Cheese suits recipes that want meltingly creamy, saltier when matured notes, while Roumy Cheese fits dishes calling for salty, sharp, strong.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brocciu Cheese the same as Roumy Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Brocciu Cheese originates in France, while Roumy Cheese comes from Egypt. Brocciu Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk; Roumy Cheese uses cow and buffalo. Aging also differs: Brocciu Cheese is typically aged fresh or matured, Roumy Cheese 3 to 4 months.
Is Brocciu Cheese similar to Roumy Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Brocciu Cheese for Roumy Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Brocciu Cheese taste like Roumy Cheese?
Brocciu Cheese reads as meltingly creamy, saltier when matured, while Roumy Cheese is salty, sharp, strong. Aromas also diverge. Brocciu Cheese leans delicious, and Roumy Cheese is closer 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 Roumy Cheese made of?
Roumy Cheese is made from cow and buffalo milk. It's typically aged 3 to 4 months. It originates in Egypt.
Which should I choose, Brocciu Cheese or Roumy Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brocciu Cheese is soft, creamy, while Roumy Cheese is hard.