Caciocavallo Cheese vs West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese
Caciocavallo Cheese is a firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly cow-milk cheese from Italy, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is firm and made from cow milk.
What Is Caciocavallo Cheese?
Caciocavallo is a stretched-curd cheese from southern Italy, made with sheep's or cow's milk and shaped like a teardrop. It has a hard edible rind and tastes much like the aged provolone of the same region.
What Is West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
West Country Farmhouse Cheddar is a firm cow's milk cheese made by traditional methods in Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Cornwall. Its name has been protected in the EU and UK since 2007, and only milk from those four counties may be used.
What's the Difference Between Caciocavallo Cheese and West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
- Texture: Caciocavallo Cheese (Firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (Firm)
- Rind: Caciocavallo Cheese (Smooth, thickens with age), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (cloth-wrapped)
- Aging: Caciocavallo Cheese (2 to 12 months, up to 5 years), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (Minimum 9 months)
- Taste: Caciocavallo Cheese (Slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (Nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Caciocavallo Cheese | West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Apennine Mountain Range | Dorset, Somerset, Devon And Cornwall |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | — | Raw |
| Texture | Firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly | Firm |
| Rind | Smooth, thickens with age | Cloth-wrapped |
| Aging | 2 to 12 months, up to 5 years | Minimum 9 months |
| Taste | Slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex | Nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness |
Taste Comparison: Does Caciocavallo Cheese Taste Like West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese brings nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness character. More specifically, Caciocavallo Cheese shows sweet when young; intensifies and becomes piquant and complex with age, dotted with small crystals, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese leans toward sharp and pungent, often slightly earthy, with a hazelnut note and large calcium lactate crystals when well matured. Aging plays into this as well. Caciocavallo Cheese at 2 to 12 months, up to 5 years develops a different profile than West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese at minimum 9 months.
Can You Substitute Caciocavallo Cheese for West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
In most recipes, Caciocavallo Cheese and West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly bite and body where the recipe calls for firm. Flavor-wise, Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese brings nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness notes.
Which Is Better, Caciocavallo Cheese or West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly cheese, go with Caciocavallo Cheese. For a firm profile, West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Caciocavallo Cheese suits recipes that want slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex notes, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese fits dishes calling for nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caciocavallo Cheese the same as West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Caciocavallo Cheese is typically aged 2 to 12 months, up to 5 years, West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese minimum 9 months.
Is Caciocavallo Cheese similar to West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Caciocavallo Cheese for West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Caciocavallo Cheese taste like West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness.
What is Caciocavallo Cheese made of?
Caciocavallo Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged 2 to 12 months, up to 5 years. It originates in Italy.
What is West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese made of?
West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged minimum 9 months.
Which should I choose, Caciocavallo Cheese or West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Caciocavallo Cheese is firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is firm.