Chevrotin Cheese vs Mont d'Or Cheese

Chevrotin Cheese is a soft, unctuous goat-milk cheese from France, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft and made from cow milk, originating in France.

What Is Chevrotin Cheese?

Chevrotin is a soft goat milk cheese from Savoy in France, made with unpasteurised milk and ripened at least three weeks on pine shelves. It holds an AOC and is known for a full flavor with a sourness that recalls wild mountain herbs.

What Is Mont d'Or Cheese?

Mont d'Or is a seasonal soft cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of France and Switzerland, wrapped in a band of spruce that gives it its flavor. It sells from September 10 to May 10 and is usually warmed in its spruce box and eaten like fondue.

What's the Difference Between Chevrotin Cheese and Mont d'Or Cheese?

• Milk type: Chevrotin Cheese (Goat's Milk), Mont d'Or Cheese (Cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Chevrotin Cheese (Unpasteurized), Mont d'Or Cheese (Raw)
• Texture: Chevrotin Cheese (Soft, unctuous), Mont d'Or Cheese (Soft)
• Rind: Chevrotin Cheese (Washed-rind), Mont d'Or Cheese (Washed rind)
• Aging: Chevrotin Cheese (21+ days), Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days)
• Taste: Chevrotin Cheese (Mild, Caprine), Mont d'Or Cheese (Resinous, mild to pungent)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Chevrotin Cheese Taste Like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Chevrotin Cheese reads as mild, caprine, while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent character. More specifically, Chevrotin Cheese shows gentle goatiness, balance of salt, vegetal notes, alpine flowers, pinkish exterior, fine white mold, ivory paste, while Mont d'Or Cheese leans toward known for its creamy taste and powerful aroma; gets resinous flavor from spruce bark. Aging plays into this as well. Chevrotin Cheese at 21+ days develops a different profile than Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days.

Can You Substitute Chevrotin Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

Chevrotin Cheese can stand in for Mont d'Or Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft, unctuous bite and body where the recipe calls for soft. Flavor-wise, Chevrotin Cheese reads as mild, caprine while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent notes.

Which Is Better, Chevrotin Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft, unctuous cheese, go with Chevrotin Cheese. For a soft profile, Mont d'Or Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Chevrotin Cheese suits recipes that want mild, caprine notes, while Mont d'Or Cheese fits dishes calling for resinous, mild to pungent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chevrotin Cheese the same as Mont d'Or Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Chevrotin Cheese is made from goat milk; Mont d'Or Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Chevrotin Cheese is typically aged 21+ days, Mont d'Or Cheese 21 to 60 days.

Is Chevrotin Cheese similar to Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Chevrotin Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Does Chevrotin Cheese taste like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Chevrotin Cheese reads as mild, caprine, while Mont d'Or Cheese is resinous, mild to pungent.

What is Chevrotin Cheese made of?

Chevrotin Cheese is made from goat milk (unpasteurized), using rennet rennet. It's typically aged 21+ days. It originates in France.

What is Mont d'Or Cheese made of?

Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 21 to 60 days. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Chevrotin Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Chevrotin Cheese is soft, unctuous, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft.