Cabrales Cheese vs Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese

Cabrales Cheese is a unctuous, compact, no eyes cow-milk cheese from Spain, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese is soft, semi-hard, compact with eyes and made from cow, goat, and sheep 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 Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?

Picón Bejes-Tresviso is a blue cheese from the Liébana valley in Cantabria, Spain, made from a mix of cow, sheep and goat milk. It has held DO protection since 1994 and finishes in natural limestone caves, which gives it teal veins and a strong, slightly spicy bite.

What's the Difference Between Cabrales Cheese and Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?

• Milk type: Cabrales Cheese (cow's milk), Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese (Cow’s, sheep’s, and goat’s milk)
• Texture: Cabrales Cheese (unctuous, compact, no eyes), Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese (Soft, Semi-Hard, Compact with eyes)
• Rind: Cabrales Cheese (Natural), Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese (Soft, thin, smooth)
• Aging: Cabrales Cheese (2 to 3 months), Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese (at least 2 months in a natural limestone cave)
• Taste: Cabrales Cheese (Intense, piquant), Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese (Slightly piquant)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Cabrales Cheese Taste Like Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese brings slightly piquant character. More specifically, Cabrales Cheese shows hints of hazelnuts, dark cocoa, sharp, metallic finish; intensely acid curd, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese leans toward powerful, slightly spicy. Aging plays into this as well. Cabrales Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese at at least 2 months in a natural limestone cave.

Can You Substitute Cabrales Cheese for Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese can stand in for Picón Bejes-Tresviso 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 soft, semi-hard, compact with eyes. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese brings slightly piquant notes.

Which Is Better, Cabrales Cheese or Picón Bejes-Tresviso 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, semi-hard, compact with eyes profile, Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese suits recipes that want intense, piquant notes, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese fits dishes calling for slightly piquant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cabrales Cheese the same as Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Cabrales Cheese is made from cow milk; Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese uses cow, goat, and sheep. Aging also differs: Cabrales Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese at least 2 months in a natural limestone cave.

Is Cabrales Cheese similar to Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Cabrales Cheese for Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?

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

Does Cabrales Cheese taste like Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese is slightly piquant.

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 Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese made of?

Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese is made from cow, goat, and sheep milk. It's typically aged at least 2 months in a natural limestone cave.

Which should I choose, Cabrales Cheese or Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cabrales Cheese is unctuous, compact, no eyes, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese is soft, semi-hard, compact with eyes.