Chaumes Cheese vs Mimolette Cheese

Chaumes Cheese is a soft, semi-soft, soft-ripened cow-milk cheese from France, while Mimolette Cheese is smooth, creamy body and made from cow milk, originating in France.

What Is Chaumes Cheese?

Chaumes is a cow's milk cheese from Saint-Antoine-de-Breuilh in the Périgord, south west France, built on traditional Trappist-style cheesemaking. It is known for its bright tangerine-orange washed rind, full-bodied flavour and smooth, faintly rubbery texture.

What Is Mimolette Cheese?

Mimolette is a hard, bright orange cow's milk cheese made around Lille in northern France. It is sold at several ages, from young wheels that taste like Parmesan to extra-old ones with a hazelnut flavor and a grey, mite-worked rind.

What's the Difference Between Chaumes Cheese and Mimolette Cheese?

• Texture: Chaumes Cheese (soft, semi-soft, soft-ripened), Mimolette Cheese (Smooth, creamy body)
• Rind: Chaumes Cheese (washed), Mimolette Cheese (Natural)
• Aging: Chaumes Cheese (4 weeks), Mimolette Cheese (6 weeks to 24 months)
• Taste: Chaumes Cheese (full-flavored, nutty), Mimolette Cheese (Sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Chaumes Cheese Taste Like Mimolette Cheese?

Chaumes Cheese reads as full-flavored, nutty, while Mimolette Cheese brings sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel character. On the nose, Chaumes Cheese offers aromatic, strong, contrasted with Mimolette Cheese's butterscotch. More specifically, Chaumes Cheese shows rich and full-bodied, while Mimolette Cheese leans toward mature: dense, waxy, hints of butterscotch; young: mild. Aging plays into this as well. Chaumes Cheese at 4 weeks develops a different profile than Mimolette Cheese at 6 weeks to 24 months.

Can You Substitute Chaumes Cheese for Mimolette Cheese?

In most recipes, Chaumes Cheese and Mimolette Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect soft, semi-soft, soft-ripened bite and body where the recipe calls for smooth, creamy body. Flavor-wise, Chaumes Cheese reads as full-flavored, nutty while Mimolette Cheese brings sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel notes.

Which Is Better, Chaumes Cheese or Mimolette Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft, semi-soft, soft-ripened cheese, go with Chaumes Cheese. For a smooth, creamy body profile, Mimolette Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Chaumes Cheese suits recipes that want full-flavored, nutty notes, while Mimolette Cheese fits dishes calling for sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chaumes Cheese the same as Mimolette Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Chaumes Cheese is typically aged 4 weeks, Mimolette Cheese 6 weeks to 24 months.

Is Chaumes Cheese similar to Mimolette Cheese?

Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.

Can I substitute Chaumes Cheese for Mimolette Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Does Chaumes Cheese taste like Mimolette Cheese?

Chaumes Cheese reads as full-flavored, nutty, while Mimolette Cheese is sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel. Aromas also diverge. Chaumes Cheese leans aromatic, strong, and Mimolette Cheese is closer to butterscotch.

What is Chaumes Cheese made of?

Chaumes Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 4 weeks. It originates in France.

What is Mimolette Cheese made of?

Mimolette Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 6 weeks to 24 months. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Chaumes Cheese or Mimolette Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Chaumes Cheese is soft, semi-soft, soft-ripened, while Mimolette Cheese is smooth, creamy body.