Chevrotin Cheese vs Saint-Nectaire Cheese

Q: Is Chevrotin Cheese the same as Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

No. Chevrotin Cheese and Saint-Nectaire 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 Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Chevrotin Cheese for Saint-Nectaire Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Chevrotin Cheese or Saint-Nectaire 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

Saint-Nectaire Cheese

Chevrotin Cheese is a soft, unctuous goat-milk cheese from France, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese is soft and tender and made from cow milk, originating in France.

What Is Chevrotin Cheese?

Chevrotin is an artisanal goat's milk cheese from the Alpine regions of France. It is similar to Reblochon but made exclusively from goat's milk. Chevrotin has a washed rind and a supple, creamy texture with a slightly nutty and earthy flavor, often developing a stronger taste with maturation.

What Is Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Saint-Nectaire is a semi-soft, washed-rind cheese from the volcanic region in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes of France. Made from cow's milk, it has a creamy, supple texture with earthy notes and hints of nuts and mushrooms. Saint-Nectaire is typically aged for at least six weeks, during which it develops a distinctive orange-pink rind.

What's the Difference Between Chevrotin Cheese and Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Milk type: Chevrotin Cheese (Goat's Milk), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Cow’s milk (Holstein, Montbéliarde, sometimes Salers))
Milk treatment: Chevrotin Cheese (Unpasteurized), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Raw for fermier, pasteurized for laitier)
Texture: Chevrotin Cheese (Soft, unctuous), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Soft and tender)
Aging: Chevrotin Cheese (21+ days), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (At least twenty-eight days)
Taste: Chevrotin Cheese (Mild, Caprine), Saint-Nectaire Cheese (Delicate hazelnut)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Chevrotin Cheese	Saint-Nectaire Cheese
Country of Origin	France	France
Specific Origin	Savoie And Haute-Savoie	Massif Du Sancy, Auvergne
Milk Type	Goat's Milk	Cow’s milk (Holstein, Montbéliarde, sometimes Salers)
Milk Treatment	Unpasteurized	Raw for fermier, pasteurized for laitier
Texture	Soft, unctuous	Soft and tender
Rind	Washed-rind	Washed-rind
Aging	21+ days	At least twenty-eight days
Taste	Mild, Caprine	Delicate hazelnut

Taste Comparison: Does Chevrotin Cheese Taste Like Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Chevrotin Cheese reads as mild, caprine, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese brings delicate hazelnut character. On the nose, Chevrotin Cheese offers gentle caprine, woody, farmyard, contrasted with Saint-Nectaire Cheese's grassy. More specifically, Chevrotin Cheese shows gentle goatiness, balance of salt, vegetal notes, alpine flowers, pinkish exterior, fine white mold, ivory paste, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese leans toward nutty. Aging plays into this as well. Chevrotin Cheese at 21+ days develops a different profile than Saint-Nectaire Cheese at at least twenty-eight days.

Can You Substitute Chevrotin Cheese for Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Chevrotin Cheese can stand in for Saint-Nectaire 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 and tender. Flavor-wise, Chevrotin Cheese reads as mild, caprine while Saint-Nectaire Cheese brings delicate hazelnut notes.

Which Is Better, Chevrotin Cheese or Saint-Nectaire 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 and tender profile, Saint-Nectaire Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Chevrotin Cheese suits recipes that want mild, caprine notes, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese fits dishes calling for delicate hazelnut.

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chevrotin Cheese the same as Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Chevrotin Cheese is made from goat milk; Saint-Nectaire Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Chevrotin Cheese is typically aged 21+ days, Saint-Nectaire Cheese at least twenty-eight days.

Is Chevrotin Cheese similar to Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Chevrotin Cheese for Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

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

Does Chevrotin Cheese taste like Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

Chevrotin Cheese reads as mild, caprine, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese is delicate hazelnut. Aromas also diverge. Chevrotin Cheese leans gentle caprine, woody, farmyard, and Saint-Nectaire Cheese is closer to grassy.

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 Saint-Nectaire Cheese made of?

Saint-Nectaire Cheese is made from cow milk (raw for fermier, pasteurized for laitier). It's typically aged at least twenty-eight days. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Chevrotin Cheese or Saint-Nectaire Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Chevrotin Cheese is soft, unctuous, while Saint-Nectaire Cheese is soft and tender.