Chevrotin Cheese vs Picodon Cheese

Q: Is Chevrotin Cheese the same as Picodon Cheese?

No. Chevrotin Cheese and Picodon Cheese are distinct cheeses. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Chevrotin Cheese for Picodon Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Chevrotin Cheese for Picodon Cheese, though the result will shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Q: Which should I choose, Chevrotin Cheese or Picodon 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.

Chevrotin Cheese is a soft, unctuous goat-milk cheese from France, while Picodon Cheese is homogeneous, smooth, and fine; can become crumbly if matured longer and made from goat milk.

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 Picodon Cheese?

Picodon is a small goat's milk cheese from the Rhône area of southern France, made mainly in the Ardèche and Drôme. Its name means spicy in Occitan, and it is known for a dry, fine paste that hardens and sharpens with age.

What's the Difference Between Chevrotin Cheese and Picodon Cheese?

Milk treatment: Chevrotin Cheese (Unpasteurized), Picodon Cheese (Raw, non-standardized, unhomogenized)
Texture: Chevrotin Cheese (Soft, unctuous), Picodon Cheese (Homogeneous, smooth, and fine; can become crumbly if matured longer)
Rind: Chevrotin Cheese (Washed-rind), Picodon Cheese (Fine, lightly covered with uniform or speckled moulds)
Aging: Chevrotin Cheese (21+ days), Picodon Cheese (Marketed starting 12 days after renneting; 30 days for "matured and washed" or "matured using the Dieulefit method")
Taste: Chevrotin Cheese (Mild, Caprine), Picodon Cheese (Frank, capric with notes of nut and mushroom, occasional pungency)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Chevrotin Cheese	Picodon Cheese
Country of Origin	France	—
Specific Origin	Savoie And Haute-Savoie	Ardèche And Drôme Regions, Including Parts Of Gard And Vaucluse
Milk Type	Goat's Milk	Goat's milk
Milk Treatment	Unpasteurized	Raw, non-standardized, unhomogenized
Texture	Soft, unctuous	Homogeneous, smooth, and fine; can become crumbly if matured longer
Rind	Washed-rind	Fine, lightly covered with uniform or speckled moulds
Aging	21+ days	Marketed starting 12 days after renneting; 30 days for "matured and washed" or "matured using the Dieulefit method"
Taste	Mild, Caprine	Frank, capric with notes of nut and mushroom, occasional pungency

Taste Comparison: Does Chevrotin Cheese Taste Like Picodon Cheese?

Chevrotin Cheese reads as mild, caprine, while Picodon Cheese brings frank, capric with notes of nut and mushroom, occasional pungency character. More specifically, Chevrotin Cheese shows gentle goatiness, balance of salt, vegetal notes, alpine flowers, pinkish exterior, fine white mold, ivory paste, while Picodon Cheese leans toward nut, light notes of mushroom, occasional pungency, possible fermentative taste. Aging plays into this as well. Chevrotin Cheese at 21+ days develops a different profile than Picodon Cheese at marketed starting 12 days after renneting; 30 days for "matured and washed" or "matured using the dieulefit method".

Can You Substitute Chevrotin Cheese for Picodon Cheese?

In most recipes, Chevrotin Cheese and Picodon Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are goat-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect soft, unctuous bite and body where the recipe calls for homogeneous, smooth, and fine; can become crumbly if matured longer. Flavor-wise, Chevrotin Cheese reads as mild, caprine while Picodon Cheese brings frank, capric with notes of nut and mushroom, occasional pungency notes.

Which Is Better, Chevrotin Cheese or Picodon 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 homogeneous, smooth, and fine; can become crumbly if matured longer profile, Picodon Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Chevrotin Cheese suits recipes that want mild, caprine notes, while Picodon Cheese fits dishes calling for frank, capric with notes of nut and mushroom, occasional pungency.

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chevrotin Cheese the same as Picodon Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Chevrotin Cheese is typically aged 21+ days, Picodon Cheese marketed starting 12 days after renneting; 30 days for "matured and washed" or "matured using the dieulefit method".

Is Chevrotin Cheese similar to Picodon Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Chevrotin Cheese for Picodon Cheese?

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

Does Chevrotin Cheese taste like Picodon Cheese?

Chevrotin Cheese reads as mild, caprine, while Picodon Cheese is frank, capric with notes of nut and mushroom, occasional pungency.

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 Picodon Cheese made of?

Picodon Cheese is made from goat milk (raw, non-standardized, unhomogenized), using small amount used, lactic coagulation rennet. It's typically aged marketed starting 12 days after renneting; 30 days for "matured and washed" or "matured using the dieulefit method".

Which should I choose, Chevrotin Cheese or Picodon Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Chevrotin Cheese is soft, unctuous, while Picodon Cheese is homogeneous, smooth, and fine; can become crumbly if matured longer.