Chevrotin Cheese vs Saint-Nectaire Cheese
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 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 Saint-Nectaire Cheese?
Saint-Nectaire is a pressed cow's milk cheese from the volcanic hills around the Monts-Dore in Auvergne, France. It ages on rye straw for at least 28 days and is known for its soft, creamy paste and hint of hazelnut.
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.
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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.