Cabecou Cheese vs Gouda Cheese
Cabecou Cheese is a soft, artisan goat-milk cheese from France, while Gouda Cheese is solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged and made from cow milk, originating in Netherlands.
What Is Cabecou Cheese?
Cabécou is a small round goat cheese from the Midi-Pyrénées in southern France, usually made with raw milk. It weighs under 40 grams (1.4 oz), tastes mildly lactic, and turns sharper once blue mold grows on its crust after about two weeks.
What Is Gouda Cheese?
Gouda is a yellow cow's milk cheese from the Netherlands, named after the city of Gouda in South Holland. It runs from young and elastic to old and hard, picking up a caramel sweetness and small crunchy crystals with age.
What's the Difference Between Cabecou Cheese and Gouda Cheese?
- Origin: Cabecou Cheese (France), Gouda Cheese (Netherlands)
- Milk type: Cabecou Cheese (goat's milk), Gouda Cheese (cow's milk)
- Milk treatment: Cabecou Cheese (raw), Gouda Cheese (pasteurized or unpasteurized)
- Texture: Cabecou Cheese (soft, artisan), Gouda Cheese (solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged)
- Rind: Cabecou Cheese (bloomy, thin and striped), Gouda Cheese (Durable)
- Aging: Cabecou Cheese (ten days to four weeks), Gouda Cheese (4 weeks to 21 months)
- Taste: Cabecou Cheese (smooth, tangy), Gouda Cheese (Sweet to nutty)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Cabecou Cheese | Gouda Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | Netherlands |
| Specific Origin | Midi-Pyrenees | Southern Holland |
| Milk Type | Goat's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Pasteurized or unpasteurized |
| Texture | Soft, artisan | Solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged |
| Rind | Bloomy, thin and striped | Durable |
| Aging | Ten days to four weeks | 4 weeks to 21 months |
| Taste | Smooth, tangy | Sweet to nutty |
Taste Comparison: Does Cabecou Cheese Taste Like Gouda Cheese?
Cabecou Cheese reads as smooth, tangy, while Gouda Cheese brings sweet to nutty character. On the nose, Cabecou Cheese offers aromatic, contrasted with Gouda Cheese's sour aromatics with a cooked, milky note. More specifically, Cabecou Cheese shows mildly lactic, sharper once blue mold grows on the crust, while Gouda Cheese leans toward young: mellow, fruity, sweet. aged: nutty, herbaceous, notes of chocolate, brazil nut, butterscotch.. Aging plays into this as well. Cabecou Cheese at ten days to four weeks develops a different profile than Gouda Cheese at 4 weeks to 21 months.
Can You Substitute Cabecou Cheese for Gouda Cheese?
Cabecou Cheese can stand in for Gouda Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft, artisan bite and body where the recipe calls for solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged. Flavor-wise, Cabecou Cheese reads as smooth, tangy while Gouda Cheese brings sweet to nutty notes.
Which Is Better, Cabecou Cheese or Gouda Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft, artisan cheese, go with Cabecou Cheese. For a solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged profile, Gouda Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cabecou Cheese suits recipes that want smooth, tangy notes, while Gouda Cheese fits dishes calling for sweet to nutty.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cabecou Cheese the same as Gouda Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Cabecou Cheese originates in France, while Gouda Cheese comes from Netherlands. Cabecou Cheese is made from goat milk; Gouda Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Cabecou Cheese is typically aged ten days to four weeks, Gouda Cheese 4 weeks to 21 months.
Is Cabecou Cheese similar to Gouda Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Cabecou Cheese for Gouda Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Cabecou Cheese taste like Gouda Cheese?
Cabecou Cheese reads as smooth, tangy, while Gouda Cheese is sweet to nutty. Aromas also diverge. Cabecou Cheese leans aromatic, and Gouda Cheese is closer to sour aromatics with a cooked, milky note.
What is Cabecou Cheese made of?
Cabecou Cheese is made from goat milk (raw). It's typically aged ten days to four weeks. It originates in France.
What is Gouda Cheese made of?
Gouda Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized or unpasteurized). It's typically aged 4 weeks to 21 months. It originates in Netherlands.
Which should I choose, Cabecou Cheese or Gouda Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cabecou Cheese is soft, artisan, while Gouda Cheese is solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged.