Charolais Cheese vs Pecorino Cheese
Charolais Cheese
Pecorino Cheese
Charolais Cheese is a soft goat-milk cheese from France, while Pecorino Cheese is hard and made from sheep milk, originating in Italy.
Buy Charolais Cheese
Buy Pecorino Cheese
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 Pecorino Cheese?
Pecorino is an Italian hard cheese made from sheep's milk, and its name comes from pecora, the Italian word for sheep. Six main varieties carry PDO status, with Pecorino Romano the best known outside Italy.
What's the Difference Between Charolais Cheese and Pecorino Cheese?
- Origin: Charolais Cheese (France), Pecorino Cheese (Italy)
- Milk type: Charolais Cheese (Goat's milk), Pecorino Cheese (Sheep's milk)
- Texture: Charolais Cheese (Soft), Pecorino Cheese (Hard)
- Aging: Charolais Cheese (Minimum of 16 days), Pecorino Cheese (fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Charolais Cheese | Pecorino Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | Italy |
| Specific Origin | Region Around Charolles, Burgundy | Italy |
| Milk Type | Goat's milk | Sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Unpasteurized | — |
| Texture | Soft | Hard |
| Rind | Bloomy, slightly wrinkled | — |
| Aging | Minimum of 16 days | Fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato |
| Taste | Acidic, salty, sweet | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Charolais Cheese Taste Like Pecorino Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Charolais Cheese at minimum of 16 days develops a different profile than Pecorino Cheese at fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato.
Can You Substitute Charolais Cheese for Pecorino Cheese?
Charolais Cheese can stand in for Pecorino Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for hard.
Which Is Better, Charolais Cheese or Pecorino Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Charolais Cheese. For a hard profile, Pecorino Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charolais Cheese the same as Pecorino Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Charolais Cheese originates in France, while Pecorino Cheese comes from Italy. Charolais Cheese is made from goat milk; Pecorino Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Charolais Cheese is typically aged minimum of 16 days, Pecorino Cheese fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato.
Is Charolais Cheese similar to Pecorino Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Charolais Cheese for Pecorino Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Charolais Cheese taste like Pecorino Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
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 Pecorino Cheese made of?
Pecorino Cheese is made from sheep milk. It's typically aged fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Charolais Cheese or Pecorino Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Charolais Cheese is soft, while Pecorino Cheese is hard.