Charolais Cheese vs Feta Cheese

Charolais Cheese is a semi-soft goat-milk cheese from France, while Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine and made from goat and sheep milk, originating in Greece.

What Is Charolais Cheese?

Charolais is a raw goat's milk cheese from the Charolais and Brionnais hills of Burgundy, France. It is one of the largest goat cheeses, sold as a tall barrel-shaped round of 250 to 310 grams, and has carried PDO status since 2014.

What Is Feta Cheese?

Feta is a Greek brined white cheese made from sheep's milk or a mix of sheep and goat's milk. It is crumbly and slightly grainy, tangy and salty, and it anchors dishes like Greek salad and spanakopita.

What's the Difference Between Charolais Cheese and Feta Cheese?

• Origin: Charolais Cheese (France), Feta Cheese (Greece)
• Milk type: Charolais Cheese (goat's milk), Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk)
• Milk treatment: Charolais Cheese (unpasteurized), Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw)
• Texture: Charolais Cheese (semi-soft), Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine)
• Rind: Charolais Cheese (Bloomy, slightly wrinkled), Feta Cheese (None)
• Aging: Charolais Cheese (Minimum of 16 days), Feta Cheese (2 months to longer)
• Taste: Charolais Cheese (acidic, salty, sweet), Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Charolais Cheese Taste Like Feta Cheese?

Charolais Cheese reads as acidic, salty, sweet, while Feta Cheese brings sharp to mild character. On the nose, Charolais Cheese offers subtle, contrasted with Feta Cheese's ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt. Aging plays into this as well. Charolais Cheese at minimum of 16 days develops a different profile than Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer.

Can You Substitute Charolais Cheese for Feta Cheese?

Charolais Cheese can stand in for Feta Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect semi-soft bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, white, aged in brine. Flavor-wise, Charolais Cheese reads as acidic, salty, sweet while Feta Cheese brings sharp to mild notes.

Which Is Better, Charolais Cheese or Feta Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semi-soft cheese, go with Charolais Cheese. For a soft, white, aged in brine profile, Feta Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Charolais Cheese suits recipes that want acidic, salty, sweet notes, while Feta Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp to mild.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charolais Cheese the same as Feta Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Charolais Cheese originates in France, while Feta Cheese comes from Greece. Charolais Cheese is made from goat milk; Feta Cheese uses goat and sheep. Aging also differs: Charolais Cheese is typically aged minimum of 16 days, Feta Cheese 2 months to longer.

Is Charolais Cheese similar to Feta Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Charolais Cheese for Feta Cheese?

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

Does Charolais Cheese taste like Feta Cheese?

Charolais Cheese reads as acidic, salty, sweet, while Feta Cheese is sharp to mild. Aromas also diverge. Charolais Cheese leans subtle, and Feta Cheese is closer to ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt.

What is Charolais Cheese made of?

Charolais Cheese is made from goat milk (unpasteurized). It's typically aged minimum of 16 days. It originates in France.

What is Feta Cheese made of?

Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk (pasteurized, sometimes raw), using rennet. It's typically aged 2 months to longer. It originates in Greece.

Which should I choose, Charolais Cheese or Feta Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Charolais Cheese is semi-soft, while Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine.