Cabrales Cheese vs Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese

Q: Is Cabrales Cheese the same as Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese?

No. Cabrales Cheese and Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese are distinct cheeses. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Cabrales Cheese for Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Cabrales Cheese for Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Cabrales Cheese or Gailtaler Almkäse 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.

Cabrales Cheese is a unctuous, compact, no eyes cow-milk cheese from Spain, while Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese is smooth consistency with occasional round and uniform eyes and made from cow or goat milk.

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 Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese?

Gailtaler Almkäse is a hard cheese made on mountain pastures in Austria's Gailtal, where 14 alpine dairies produce about 40 tonnes a year. Wheels range from 0.5 to 35 kilograms and carry a protected designation of origin.

What's the Difference Between Cabrales Cheese and Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese?

Milk type: Cabrales Cheese (cow's milk), Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese (Raw cow's milk, raw goat's milk (up to 10%))
Milk treatment: Cabrales Cheese (unpasteurized), Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese (Raw)
Texture: Cabrales Cheese (unctuous, compact, no eyes), Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese (Smooth consistency with occasional round and uniform eyes)
Rind: Cabrales Cheese (Natural), Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese (Dry, closed, golden-yellow natural rind)
Aging: Cabrales Cheese (2 to 3 months), Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese (Minimum ripening time of seven weeks; five weeks for specific purposes; 75 days if vacuum-packed)
Taste: Cabrales Cheese (Intense, piquant), Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese (Distinctive taste of pure Alpine milk)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Cabrales Cheese	Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese
Country of Origin	Spain	—
Specific Origin	Asturias	Gailtal Alps
Milk Type	Cow's milk	Raw cow's milk, raw goat's milk (up to 10%)
Milk Treatment	Unpasteurized	Raw
Texture	Unctuous, compact, no eyes	Smooth consistency with occasional round and uniform eyes
Rind	Natural	Dry, closed, golden-yellow natural rind
Aging	2 to 3 months	Minimum ripening time of seven weeks; five weeks for specific purposes; 75 days if vacuum-packed
Taste	Intense, piquant	Distinctive taste of pure Alpine milk

Taste Comparison: Does Cabrales Cheese Taste Like Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese brings distinctive taste of pure alpine milk character. Aging plays into this as well. Cabrales Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese at minimum ripening time of seven weeks; five weeks for specific purposes; 75 days if vacuum-packed.

Can You Substitute Cabrales Cheese for Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese can stand in for Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect unctuous, compact, no eyes bite and body where the recipe calls for smooth consistency with occasional round and uniform eyes. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant while Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese brings distinctive taste of pure alpine milk notes.

Which Is Better, Cabrales Cheese or Gailtaler Almkäse 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 smooth consistency with occasional round and uniform eyes profile, Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese suits recipes that want intense, piquant notes, while Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese fits dishes calling for distinctive taste of pure alpine milk.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cabrales Cheese the same as Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Cabrales Cheese is made from cow milk; Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese uses cow or goat. Aging also differs: Cabrales Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese minimum ripening time of seven weeks; five weeks for specific purposes; 75 days if vacuum-packed.

Is Cabrales Cheese similar to Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Cabrales Cheese for Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese?

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

Does Cabrales Cheese taste like Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese is distinctive taste of pure alpine milk.

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 Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese made of?

Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese is made from cow or goat milk (raw), using natural rennet. It's typically aged minimum ripening time of seven weeks; five weeks for specific purposes; 75 days if vacuum-packed.

Which should I choose, Cabrales Cheese or Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cabrales Cheese is unctuous, compact, no eyes, while Gailtaler Almkäse Cheese is smooth consistency with occasional round and uniform eyes.