Chèvre (Goat Cheese) vs Feta Cheese

Q: Is Chèvre (Goat Cheese) the same as Feta Cheese?

No. Chèvre (Goat Cheese) and Feta Cheese are distinct cheeses from France and Greece respectively. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Chèvre (Goat Cheese) for Feta Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Chèvre (Goat Cheese) for Feta Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Chèvre (Goat Cheese) or Feta Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture and flavor rows in the table above are the best guide. Pick the one whose profile fits your recipe or board.

Chèvre (Goat Cheese)

Feta Cheese

Chèvre (Goat Cheese) is a 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 Chèvre (Goat Cheese)?

Chèvre is the French name for cheese made from goat's milk. The classic French style is soft and creamy under a light colored rind, tart from the fatty acids in goat milk, and is sometimes served hot as chèvre chaud.

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 Chèvre (Goat Cheese) and Feta Cheese?

Origin: Chèvre (Goat Cheese) (France), Feta Cheese (Greece)
Milk type: Chèvre (Goat Cheese) (Goat), Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk)
Milk treatment: Chèvre (Goat Cheese) (pasteurized or unpasteurized), Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw)
Texture: Chèvre (Goat Cheese) (soft), Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine)
Rind: Chèvre (Goat Cheese) (light colored), Feta Cheese (None)
Aging: Chèvre (Goat Cheese) (not aged for long), Feta Cheese (2 months to longer)
Taste: Chèvre (Goat Cheese) (tangy), Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Chèvre (Goat Cheese)	Feta Cheese
Country of Origin	France	Greece
Specific Origin	France, Especially The Loire Valley And Poitou	Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture
Milk Type	Goat	Goat's and sheep's milk
Milk Treatment	Pasteurized or unpasteurized	Pasteurized, sometimes raw
Texture	Soft	Soft, white, aged in brine
Rind	Light colored	None
Aging	Not aged for long	2 months to longer
Taste	Tangy	Sharp to mild

Pairing Comparison

What works with each cheese: wines, foods, breads and more.

	Chèvre (Goat Cheese)	Feta Cheese
Pairs well with	Albariño, Asparagus, Bresaola, Cabernet Franc, California Viogniers, Cava, Champagne, Fig Jam, German Riesling, Green Tea, Grüner Veltliner, Honey and more	Albariño, Asparagus, Avocado, Cod, Dirty Martini, Green Tea, Kiwi, Kolsch, Kombucha, Mangoes, Muscat, Pesto and more

Taste Comparison: Does Chèvre (Goat Cheese) Taste Like Feta Cheese?

Chèvre (Goat Cheese) reads as tangy, while Feta Cheese brings sharp to mild character. On the nose, Chèvre (Goat Cheese) offers goaty, contrasted with Feta Cheese's ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt. More specifically, Chèvre (Goat Cheese) shows mild, creamy, sometimes fruity, while Feta Cheese leans toward sharp, dry, hard to mild, rich, creamy depending on production methods, breed of animals, season, and diet. can be tangy or creamy. flavors of sheep’s milk, grass, and clover. variety ranges from region to region, and producer to producer.. Aging plays into this as well. Chèvre (Goat Cheese) at not aged for long develops a different profile than Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer.

Can You Substitute Chèvre (Goat Cheese) for Feta Cheese?

Chèvre (Goat Cheese) can stand in for Feta 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 soft, white, aged in brine. Flavor-wise, Chèvre (Goat Cheese) reads as tangy while Feta Cheese brings sharp to mild notes.

Which Is Better, Chèvre (Goat Cheese) or Feta Cheese?

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

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chèvre (Goat Cheese) the same as Feta Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Chèvre (Goat Cheese) originates in France, while Feta Cheese comes from Greece. Chèvre (Goat Cheese) is made from goat milk; Feta Cheese uses goat and sheep. Aging also differs: Chèvre (Goat Cheese) is typically aged not aged for long, Feta Cheese 2 months to longer.

Is Chèvre (Goat Cheese) similar to Feta Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Chèvre (Goat Cheese) for Feta Cheese?

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

Does Chèvre (Goat Cheese) taste like Feta Cheese?

Chèvre (Goat Cheese) reads as tangy, while Feta Cheese is sharp to mild. Aromas also diverge. Chèvre (Goat Cheese) leans goaty, and Feta Cheese is closer to ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt.

What is Chèvre (Goat Cheese) made of?

Chèvre (Goat Cheese) is made from goat milk (pasteurized or unpasteurized). It's typically aged not aged for long. 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, Chèvre (Goat Cheese) or Feta Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Chèvre (Goat Cheese) is soft, while Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine.