Brunost Cheese vs Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese

Brunost Cheese is a semi-soft cow and goat-milk cheese from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, while Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese is semi-hard, creamy and made from cow milk.

What Is Brunost Cheese?

Brunost is a Norwegian whey product made by boiling whey with milk and cream until the milk sugars caramelize. It is brown, sweet and firm enough to slice, and it is eaten like cheese on sandwiches, crispbread and waffles.

What Is Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese?

Cașcaval de Săveni is a semi-hard cheese from Romania, specifically from the northern half of Botoșani County. It is made from raw cow's milk and undergoes a traditional production process involving enzymatic coagulation with rennet. The cheese is aged for a minimum of 60 days, developing a unique flavor profile with sweet, salty, and slightly bitter notes reminiscent of walnuts. The cheese has a doughy, springy, and creamy texture, with a cream to pale yellow color. It is sold in cuboid or cylindrical shapes, either coated in wax or covered with a heat-shrinkable film. The cheese's distinct characteristics are attributed to the local milk and traditional production methods passed down through generations. The geographical area and local flora contribute to the cheese's flavor and aroma.

What's the Difference Between Brunost Cheese and Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese?

• Milk type: Brunost Cheese (Cow's and goat's milk), Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese (Cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Brunost Cheese (pasteurized or unpasteurized), Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese (Raw)
• Texture: Brunost Cheese (Semi-soft), Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese (Semi-hard, creamy)
• Rind: Brunost Cheese (natural), Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese (Thin rind, darker yellow than the inside)
• Aging: Brunost Cheese (unaged, ready once packed and refrigerated), Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese (Minimum 60 days)
• Taste: Brunost Cheese (caramel, sweet), Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese (Pleasant, both sweet and salty, with a hint of bitterness)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Brunost Cheese Taste Like Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese?

Brunost Cheese reads as caramel, sweet, while Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese brings pleasant, both sweet and salty, with a hint of bitterness character. More specifically, Brunost Cheese shows sweet, caramel-like, with a tang that is stronger in goat's milk versions, while Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese leans toward reminiscent of walnuts, due to proteolytic fermentation. Aging plays into this as well. Brunost Cheese at unaged, ready once packed and refrigerated develops a different profile than Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese at minimum 60 days.

Can You Substitute Brunost Cheese for Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese?

Brunost Cheese can stand in for Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect semi-soft bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-hard, creamy. Flavor-wise, Brunost Cheese reads as caramel, sweet while Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese brings pleasant, both sweet and salty, with a hint of bitterness notes.

Which Is Better, Brunost Cheese or Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semi-soft cheese, go with Brunost Cheese. For a semi-hard, creamy profile, Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brunost Cheese suits recipes that want caramel, sweet notes, while Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese fits dishes calling for pleasant, both sweet and salty, with a hint of bitterness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brunost Cheese the same as Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brunost Cheese is made from cow and goat milk; Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Brunost Cheese is typically aged unaged, ready once packed and refrigerated, Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese minimum 60 days.

Is Brunost Cheese similar to Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Brunost Cheese for Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese?

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

Does Brunost Cheese taste like Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese?

Brunost Cheese reads as caramel, sweet, while Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese is pleasant, both sweet and salty, with a hint of bitterness.

What is Brunost Cheese made of?

Brunost Cheese is made from cow and goat milk (pasteurized or unpasteurized). It's typically aged unaged, ready once packed and refrigerated. It originates in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

What is Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese made of?

Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using enzymatic coagulation with rennet. It's typically aged minimum 60 days.

Which should I choose, Brunost Cheese or Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brunost Cheese is semi-soft, while Caşcaval de Săveni Cheese is semi-hard, creamy.