Queso de Burgos vs Maroilles Cheese

Q: Is Queso de Burgos the same as Maroilles Cheese?

No. Queso de Burgos and Maroilles Cheese are distinct cheeses from Spain and France respectively. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Queso de Burgos for Maroilles Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Queso de Burgos for Maroilles Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Queso de Burgos or Maroilles Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture and flavor rows in the table above are the best guide. Pick the one whose profile fits your recipe or board.

Queso de Burgos

Maroilles Cheese

Queso de Burgos is a fresh, slightly grainy or buttery, elastic, slightly fatty cow and sheep-milk cheese from Spain, while Maroilles Cheese is semisoft and made from cow milk, originating in France.

What Is Queso de Burgos?

Queso de Burgos is a fresh white cheese from the province of Burgos, Spain, eaten within days of being made. Once a sheep's milk cheese sold at the Burgos market, it received EU Protected Geographical Indication status in September 2025.

What Is Maroilles Cheese?

Maroilles is a cow's milk cheese from northern France, sold in rectangular blocks with a moist orange-red washed rind. It is known for its strong smell and takes its name from the village of Maroilles, where it has been made since the 10th century.

What's the Difference Between Queso de Burgos and Maroilles Cheese?

Origin: Queso de Burgos (Spain), Maroilles Cheese (France)
Milk type: Queso de Burgos (Cow’s and sheep’s milk), Maroilles Cheese (cow's milk)
Milk treatment: Queso de Burgos (Pasteurized), Maroilles Cheese (pasteurized and unpasteurized)
Texture: Queso de Burgos (Fresh, slightly grainy or buttery, elastic, slightly fatty), Maroilles Cheese (Semisoft)
Rind: Queso de Burgos (None), Maroilles Cheese (Reddish-orange color)
Aging: Queso de Burgos (Fresh, not matured), Maroilles Cheese (5 weeks for 25-oz size)
Taste: Queso de Burgos (Mild, milky, and slightly sweet), Maroilles Cheese (Creamy taste, powerful aroma)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Queso de Burgos	Maroilles Cheese
Country of Origin	Spain	France
Specific Origin	Province Of Burgos	Nord And Aisne
Milk Type	Cow’s and sheep’s milk	Cow's milk
Milk Treatment	Pasteurized	Pasteurized and unpasteurized
Texture	Fresh, slightly grainy or buttery, elastic, slightly fatty	Semisoft
Rind	None	Reddish-orange color
Aging	Fresh, not matured	5 weeks for 25-oz size
Taste	Mild, milky, and slightly sweet	Creamy taste, powerful aroma

Taste Comparison: Does Queso de Burgos Taste Like Maroilles Cheese?

Queso de Burgos reads as mild, milky, and slightly sweet, while Maroilles Cheese brings creamy taste, powerful aroma character. On the nose, Queso de Burgos offers smells of fresh milk; varies in intensity based on sheep’s milk content, contrasted with Maroilles Cheese's cellars, wet brick, undergrowth. More specifically, Queso de Burgos shows slightly salty or not salty, no acidity or bitterness; varying intensity of sheep’s milk aftertaste depending on type, while Maroilles Cheese leans toward pungent smell of cellars, wet brick, undergrowth, light ammoniac, milky, slightly salty, with hints of milk curd, hazelnut, and garlic. Aging plays into this as well. Queso de Burgos at fresh, not matured develops a different profile than Maroilles Cheese at 5 weeks for 25-oz size.

Can You Substitute Queso de Burgos for Maroilles Cheese?

Queso de Burgos can stand in for Maroilles Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect fresh, slightly grainy or buttery, elastic, slightly fatty bite and body where the recipe calls for semisoft. Flavor-wise, Queso de Burgos reads as mild, milky, and slightly sweet while Maroilles Cheese brings creamy taste, powerful aroma notes.

Which Is Better, Queso de Burgos or Maroilles Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a fresh, slightly grainy or buttery, elastic, slightly fatty cheese, go with Queso de Burgos. For a semisoft profile, Maroilles Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Queso de Burgos suits recipes that want mild, milky, and slightly sweet notes, while Maroilles Cheese fits dishes calling for creamy taste, powerful aroma.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Queso de Burgos the same as Maroilles Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Queso de Burgos originates in Spain, while Maroilles Cheese comes from France. Queso de Burgos is made from cow and sheep milk; Maroilles Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Queso de Burgos is typically aged fresh, not matured, Maroilles Cheese 5 weeks for 25-oz size.

Is Queso de Burgos similar to Maroilles Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Queso de Burgos for Maroilles Cheese?

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

Does Queso de Burgos taste like Maroilles Cheese?

Queso de Burgos reads as mild, milky, and slightly sweet, while Maroilles Cheese is creamy taste, powerful aroma. Aromas also diverge. Queso de Burgos leans smells of fresh milk; varies in intensity based on sheep’s milk content, and Maroilles Cheese is closer to cellars, wet brick, undergrowth.

What is Queso de Burgos made of?

Queso de Burgos is made from cow and sheep milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged fresh, not matured. It originates in Spain.

What is Maroilles Cheese made of?

Maroilles Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized and unpasteurized), using calf rennet. It's typically aged 5 weeks for 25-oz size. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Queso de Burgos or Maroilles Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Queso de Burgos is fresh, slightly grainy or buttery, elastic, slightly fatty, while Maroilles Cheese is semisoft.