Cabrales Cheese vs Queso de Media Flor de Guía

Cabrales Cheese is a crumbly, open paste cow-milk cheese from Spain, while Queso de Media Flor de Guía is dense, compact, sometimes rubbery or creamy 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 Queso de Media Flor de Guía?

Queso de Media Flor de Guía is a full-fat or half-fat cheese produced in the same region as Queso de Flor de Guía, using the same milk proportions. However, its curdling process involves at least 50% vegetable rennet, with the remainder being animal rennet or other starter cultures. It has a cylindrical shape, with a diameter of 15–30 cm and a height of 4–8 cm. Its texture varies from creamy to very hard depending on its maturity. The cheese has a mild acidic flavor with slight sharpness, and its aroma includes lactic, vegetal, and sometimes floral or roasted notes. It is matured for at least 15 days for semi-mature and over 60 days for mature cheese.

What's the Difference Between Cabrales Cheese and Queso de Media Flor de Guía?

• Milk type: Cabrales Cheese (cow's milk), Queso de Media Flor de Guía (Sheep (Canary Island breed), with up to 40% cow and 10% goat milk)
• Texture: Cabrales Cheese (Crumbly, open paste), Queso de Media Flor de Guía (Dense, compact, sometimes rubbery or creamy)
• Rind: Cabrales Cheese (Natural), Queso de Media Flor de Guía (Ivory-colored when young, thick and brown when mature)
• Aging: Cabrales Cheese (2 to 3 months), Queso de Media Flor de Guía (15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature))
• Taste: Cabrales Cheese (Intense, piquant), Queso de Media Flor de Guía (Mildly acidic with slight sharpness)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Cabrales Cheese Taste Like Queso de Media Flor de Guía?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Queso de Media Flor de Guía brings mildly acidic with slight sharpness character. On the nose, Cabrales Cheese offers strong, contrasted with Queso de Media Flor de Guía's medium-high intensity. More specifically, Cabrales Cheese shows hints of hazelnuts, dark cocoa, sharp, metallic finish; intensely acid curd, while Queso de Media Flor de Guía leans toward lactic, vegetal (cardoon and nuts), animal (rennet), sometimes floral or roasted. Aging plays into this as well. Cabrales Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Queso de Media Flor de Guía at 15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature).

Can You Substitute Cabrales Cheese for Queso de Media Flor de Guía?

Cabrales Cheese can stand in for Queso de Media Flor de Guía 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 dense, compact, sometimes rubbery or creamy. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant while Queso de Media Flor de Guía brings mildly acidic with slight sharpness notes.

Which Is Better, Cabrales Cheese or Queso de Media Flor de Guía?

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 dense, compact, sometimes rubbery or creamy profile, Queso de Media Flor de Guía is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese suits recipes that want intense, piquant notes, while Queso de Media Flor de Guía fits dishes calling for mildly acidic with slight sharpness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cabrales Cheese the same as Queso de Media Flor de Guía?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Cabrales Cheese is made from cow milk; Queso de Media Flor de Guía uses cow, goat, and sheep. Aging also differs: Cabrales Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Queso de Media Flor de Guía 15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature).

Is Cabrales Cheese similar to Queso de Media Flor de Guía?

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

Can I substitute Cabrales Cheese for Queso de Media Flor de Guía?

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

Does Cabrales Cheese taste like Queso de Media Flor de Guía?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Queso de Media Flor de Guía is mildly acidic with slight sharpness. Aromas also diverge. Cabrales Cheese leans strong, and Queso de Media Flor de Guía is closer to medium-high intensity.

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 Queso de Media Flor de Guía made of?

Queso de Media Flor de Guía is made from cow, goat, and sheep milk, using at least 50% vegetable rennet, remainder can be animal rennet or starter cultures rennet. It's typically aged 15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature).

Which should I choose, Cabrales Cheese or Queso de Media Flor de Guía?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cabrales Cheese is crumbly, open paste, while Queso de Media Flor de Guía is dense, compact, sometimes rubbery or creamy.