Cabrales Cheese vs Tupí Cheese

Cabrales Cheese is a unctuous, compact, no eyes cow-milk cheese from Spain, while Tupí Cheese is soft, artisan and made from cow or sheep milk, originating in Andorra and Spain.

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 Tupí Cheese?

Tupí is a fermented cheese from the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, made from cow's or sheep's milk and left to ferment in a glazed ceramic jar with strong liquor. It is soft, creamy and strong tasting, and one of the few cheeses of genuine Catalan origin.

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

• Origin: Cabrales Cheese (Spain), Tupí Cheese (Andorra and Spain)
• Milk type: Cabrales Cheese (cow's milk), Tupí Cheese (cow's or sheep's milk)
• Milk treatment: Cabrales Cheese (unpasteurized), Tupí Cheese (pasteurized)
• Texture: Cabrales Cheese (unctuous, compact, no eyes), Tupí Cheese (soft, artisan)
• Rind: Cabrales Cheese (Natural), Tupí Cheese (rindless)
• Aging: Cabrales Cheese (2 to 3 months), Tupí Cheese (minimum 2 months)
• Taste: Cabrales Cheese (Intense, piquant), Tupí Cheese (spicy)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Cabrales Cheese Taste Like Tupí Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Tupí Cheese brings spicy character. On the nose, Cabrales Cheese offers strong, contrasted with Tupí Cheese's pungent. More specifically, Cabrales Cheese shows hints of hazelnuts, dark cocoa, sharp, metallic finish; intensely acid curd, while Tupí Cheese leans toward strong. Aging plays into this as well. Cabrales Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Tupí Cheese at minimum 2 months.

Can You Substitute Cabrales Cheese for Tupí Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese can stand in for Tupí 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 Tupí Cheese brings spicy notes.

Which Is Better, Cabrales Cheese or Tupí 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, Tupí Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese suits recipes that want intense, piquant notes, while Tupí Cheese fits dishes calling for spicy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cabrales Cheese the same as Tupí Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Cabrales Cheese originates in Spain, while Tupí Cheese comes from Andorra and Spain. Cabrales Cheese is made from cow milk; Tupí Cheese uses cow or sheep. Aging also differs: Cabrales Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Tupí Cheese minimum 2 months.

Is Cabrales Cheese similar to Tupí Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Cabrales Cheese for Tupí Cheese?

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

Does Cabrales Cheese taste like Tupí Cheese?

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

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 Tupí Cheese made of?

Tupí Cheese is made from cow or sheep milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged minimum 2 months. It originates in Andorra and Spain.

Which should I choose, Cabrales Cheese or Tupí Cheese?

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