Cabrales Cheese vs Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese

Cabrales Cheese is a crumbly, open paste 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 strong, pungent blue cheese from the Asturias region in northern Spain. It is traditionally made from a mixture of raw cow's, goat’s, and sheep's milk that is aged in natural limestone caves, facilitating the development of its intense flavor and blue veining. Cabrales is known for its deep, spicy earthiness and can be quite sharp, making it a favorite among blue cheese aficionados.

What Is Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?

Picón-Bejes-Tresviso is a full-fat blue cheese from the Liébana district in Cantabria, Spain. It is made from a blend of cow’s (Tudanca, Brown Alpine, Friesian), ewe’s (Lacha), and goat’s (Pyrenean, Picos de Europa) milk. The cheese has a cylindrical shape with flat faces, a soft, thin, and smooth rind, and a compact paste with eyes, white in color with greenish-blue veins. It has a slightly piquant flavor and undergoes a unique maturation process in natural limestone caves at altitudes between 500 and 2000 meters. The cheeses are placed on wooden boards, turned, and moistened every two weeks to encourage Penicillium growth, which is key to the cheese’s development. Traditionally, it is marketed wrapped in Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore) leaves. The entire production process is regulated and certified to maintain quality and authenticity.

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 (Crumbly, open paste), Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese (Soft, Semi-Hard, Compact with eyes)
• Rind: Cabrales Cheese (Natural), Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese (Soft, thin, smooth)
• 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.

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 crumbly, open paste 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 crumbly, open paste 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.

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.

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 crumbly, open paste, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese is soft, semi-hard, compact with eyes.