Cabrales Cheese vs Sosha Cheese

Cabrales Cheese is a unctuous, compact, no eyes cow-milk cheese from Spain, while Sosha Cheese is soft, artisan and made from goat 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 Sosha Cheese?

Sosha, also known as Churul, is a traditional cheese from the Tibetan region, also found in parts of China and Nepal. Made from goat's or yak's milk, this cheese offers a soft, artisan texture. Sosha is known for its strong and pungent flavor, mirrored by its similarly bold aroma. The cheese appears white in color and develops a natural rind as it matures. It's a staple in local diets, often enjoyed for its intense taste and creamy consistency.

What's the Difference Between Cabrales Cheese and Sosha Cheese?

• Origin: Cabrales Cheese (Spain), Sosha Cheese (China, Nepal and Tibet)
• Milk type: Cabrales Cheese (cow's milk), Sosha Cheese (goat's or yak's milk)
• Texture: Cabrales Cheese (unctuous, compact, no eyes), Sosha Cheese (soft, artisan)
• Rind: Cabrales Cheese (Natural), Sosha Cheese (natural)
• Taste: Cabrales Cheese (Intense, piquant), Sosha Cheese (pungent, strong)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Cabrales Cheese Taste Like Sosha Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Sosha Cheese brings pungent, strong character. On the nose, Cabrales Cheese offers strong, contrasted with Sosha Cheese's pungent, strong.

Can You Substitute Cabrales Cheese for Sosha Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese can stand in for Sosha 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, artisan. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant while Sosha Cheese brings pungent, strong notes.

Which Is Better, Cabrales Cheese or Sosha 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, artisan profile, Sosha Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese suits recipes that want intense, piquant notes, while Sosha Cheese fits dishes calling for pungent, strong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cabrales Cheese the same as Sosha Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Cabrales Cheese originates in Spain, while Sosha Cheese comes from China, Nepal and Tibet. Cabrales Cheese is made from cow milk; Sosha Cheese uses goat.

Is Cabrales Cheese similar to Sosha Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Cabrales Cheese for Sosha Cheese?

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

Does Cabrales Cheese taste like Sosha Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Sosha Cheese is pungent, strong. Aromas also diverge. Cabrales Cheese leans strong, and Sosha Cheese is closer to pungent, strong.

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 Sosha Cheese made of?

Sosha Cheese is made from goat milk. It originates in China, Nepal and Tibet.

Which should I choose, Cabrales Cheese or Sosha Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cabrales Cheese is unctuous, compact, no eyes, while Sosha Cheese is soft, artisan.