Cantal Cheese vs Roquefort Cheese

Cantal Cheese is a firm cow-milk cheese from France, while Roquefort Cheese is moist, very creamy and made from sheep milk, originating in France.

What Is Cantal Cheese?

Cantal is a firm, uncooked cow's milk cheese from the Auvergne region of central France and one of the oldest cheeses in the country. Its tangy, buttery flavor recalls Cheddar and sharpens with age, from the mild jeune to the hard, nutty vieux.

What Is Roquefort Cheese?

Roquefort is a blue cheese made from raw Lacaune sheep's milk in southern France. Only cheese ripened in the natural Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon may carry the name. It is tangy and creamy, with no rind and a sharp bite from the blue veins.

What's the Difference Between Cantal Cheese and Roquefort Cheese?

• Milk type: Cantal Cheese (cow's milk), Roquefort Cheese (sheep's milk)
• Milk treatment: Cantal Cheese (Raw), Roquefort Cheese (unpasteurized)
• Texture: Cantal Cheese (Firm), Roquefort Cheese (Moist, very creamy)
• Rind: Cantal Cheese (Gray-white to golden), Roquefort Cheese (none)
• Aging: Cantal Cheese (Jeune: 30-60 days, Entre-Deux: 90-210 days, Vieux: >8 months), Roquefort Cheese (Minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Cantal Cheese Taste Like Roquefort Cheese?

Their flavor profiles are distinct. More specifically, Cantal Cheese shows jeune: soft, milk-and-butter. entre-deux: balanced, intense. vieux: powerful, spicy. diversity of grasslands contributes to flavor., while Roquefort Cheese leans toward buttercream smooth to salty and sharp. Aging plays into this as well. Cantal Cheese at jeune: 30-60 days, entre-deux: 90-210 days, vieux: >8 months develops a different profile than Roquefort Cheese at minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months.

Can You Substitute Cantal Cheese for Roquefort Cheese?

Cantal Cheese can stand in for Roquefort Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect firm bite and body where the recipe calls for moist, very creamy.

Which Is Better, Cantal Cheese or Roquefort Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a firm cheese, go with Cantal Cheese. For a moist, very creamy profile, Roquefort Cheese is the better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cantal Cheese the same as Roquefort Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Cantal Cheese is made from cow milk; Roquefort Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Cantal Cheese is typically aged jeune: 30-60 days, entre-deux: 90-210 days, vieux: >8 months, Roquefort Cheese minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months.

Is Cantal Cheese similar to Roquefort Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Cantal Cheese for Roquefort Cheese?

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

Does Cantal Cheese taste like Roquefort Cheese?

They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.

What is Cantal Cheese made of?

Cantal Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using rennet rennet. It's typically aged jeune: 30-60 days, entre-deux: 90-210 days, vieux: >8 months. It originates in France.

What is Roquefort Cheese made of?

Roquefort Cheese is made from sheep milk (unpasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Cantal Cheese or Roquefort Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cantal Cheese is firm, while Roquefort Cheese is moist, very creamy.