Cabrales Cheese vs Chhurpi Cheese
Cabrales Cheese is a unctuous, compact, no eyes cow-milk cheese from Spain, while Chhurpi Cheese is soft, hard, artisan and made from cow milk, originating in China, Nepal and Tibet.
What Is Cabrales Cheese?
Cabrales is a blue cheese made by rural dairy farmers in the Asturias mountains of Spain, from raw cow's milk alone or blended with goat and sheep milk. It is known for its strong, sometimes sharply acidic flavor and for ripening in limestone caves.
What Is Chhurpi Cheese?
Chhurpi is a traditional buttermilk cheese eaten in Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and parts of Northeastern India. It comes in a soft version served with rice and cooked into dishes, and a very hard version counted among the hardest cheeses in the world.
What's the Difference Between Cabrales Cheese and Chhurpi Cheese?
- Origin: Cabrales Cheese (Spain), Chhurpi Cheese (China, Nepal and Tibet)
- Texture: Cabrales Cheese (unctuous, compact, no eyes), Chhurpi Cheese (soft, hard, artisan)
- Rind: Cabrales Cheese (Natural), Chhurpi Cheese (natural)
- Taste: Cabrales Cheese (Intense, piquant), Chhurpi Cheese (tangy)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Cabrales Cheese | Chhurpi Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Spain | China, Nepal And Tibet |
| Specific Origin | Asturias | Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, And Parts Of Northeastern India |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's or yak's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Unpasteurized | — |
| Texture | Unctuous, compact, no eyes | Soft, hard, artisan |
| Rind | Natural | Natural |
| Aging | 2 to 3 months | — |
| Taste | Intense, piquant | Tangy |
Taste Comparison: Does Cabrales Cheese Taste Like Chhurpi Cheese?
Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Chhurpi Cheese brings tangy character. More specifically, Cabrales Cheese shows hints of hazelnuts, dark cocoa, sharp, metallic finish; intensely acid curd, while Chhurpi Cheese leans toward neutral when fresh, tangy after fermenting.
Can You Substitute Cabrales Cheese for Chhurpi Cheese?
In most recipes, Cabrales Cheese and Chhurpi Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect unctuous, compact, no eyes bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, hard, artisan. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant while Chhurpi Cheese brings tangy notes.
Which Is Better, Cabrales Cheese or Chhurpi Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a unctuous, compact, no eyes cheese, go with Cabrales Cheese. For a soft, hard, artisan profile, Chhurpi Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese suits recipes that want intense, piquant notes, while Chhurpi Cheese fits dishes calling for tangy.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cabrales Cheese the same as Chhurpi Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Cabrales Cheese originates in Spain, while Chhurpi Cheese comes from China, Nepal and Tibet.
Is Cabrales Cheese similar to Chhurpi Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Cabrales Cheese for Chhurpi Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Cabrales Cheese taste like Chhurpi Cheese?
Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Chhurpi Cheese is tangy.
What is Cabrales Cheese made of?
Cabrales Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized), using kid rennet. It's typically aged 2 to 3 months. It originates in Spain.
What is Chhurpi Cheese made of?
Chhurpi Cheese is made from cow milk. It originates in China, Nepal and Tibet.
Which should I choose, Cabrales Cheese or Chhurpi Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cabrales Cheese is unctuous, compact, no eyes, while Chhurpi Cheese is soft, hard, artisan.