Cabrales Cheese vs Tulum Cheese
Cabrales Cheese is a unctuous, compact, no eyes cow-milk cheese from Spain, while Tulum Cheese is a goat-milk cheese, originating in Turkey.
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 Tulum Cheese?
Tulum is a Turkish goat's milk cheese ripened inside a goatskin casing, which is what the word tulum means in Turkish. It is made in several regions, and versions from Erzincan, İzmir, Divle, Çimi and Kargı each taste different.
What's the Difference Between Cabrales Cheese and Tulum Cheese?
- Origin: Cabrales Cheese (Spain), Tulum Cheese (Turkey)
- Milk type: Cabrales Cheese (cow's milk), Tulum Cheese (goat)
- Milk treatment: Cabrales Cheese (unpasteurized), Tulum Cheese (raw)
- Aging: Cabrales Cheese (2 to 3 months), Tulum Cheese (about 6 months)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Cabrales Cheese | Tulum Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Spain | Turkey |
| Specific Origin | Asturias | Turkey |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Goat |
| Milk Treatment | Unpasteurized | Raw |
| Texture | Unctuous, compact, no eyes | — |
| Rind | Natural | — |
| Aging | 2 to 3 months | About 6 months |
| Taste | Intense, piquant | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Cabrales Cheese Taste Like Tulum Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Cabrales Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Tulum Cheese at about 6 months.
Can You Substitute Cabrales Cheese for Tulum Cheese?
Cabrales Cheese can stand in for Tulum Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe.
Which Is Better, Cabrales Cheese or Tulum Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cabrales Cheese the same as Tulum Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Cabrales Cheese originates in Spain, while Tulum Cheese comes from Turkey. Cabrales Cheese is made from cow milk; Tulum Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Cabrales Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Tulum Cheese about 6 months.
Is Cabrales Cheese similar to Tulum Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Cabrales Cheese for Tulum Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Cabrales Cheese taste like Tulum Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
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 Tulum Cheese made of?
Tulum Cheese is made from goat milk (raw). It's typically aged about 6 months. It originates in Turkey.
Which should I choose, Cabrales Cheese or Tulum Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.