Crescenza Cheese vs Exmoor Blue Cheese

Crescenza Cheese is a very soft, creamy cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Exmoor Blue Cheese is soft and made from cow milk.

What Is Crescenza Cheese?

Crescenza, also called stracchino, is an Italian cow's milk cheese from Lombardy, Tuscany, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Liguria. It is eaten very young and known for a rindless, very soft and creamy body with a mild, slightly acidic flavor.

What Is Exmoor Blue Cheese?

Exmoor Blue Cheese is a full-fat soft blue-veined cheese made from unpasteurized Jersey cow’s milk in Devon and Somerset, England. It has a rich yellow color and a buttery texture, with an average fat content of 34%. The cheese has been handmade on Willet Farm since 1986, using traditional methods. It undergoes a maturation period of 3 to 6 weeks, during which it is regularly turned and treated with Penicillium roqueforti and Penicillium candidum to develop its distinctive blue veining. The lush pasture of the region, influenced by the warm, wet climate and red sandstone soil, contributes to the rich flavor of the milk used in production.

What's the Difference Between Crescenza Cheese and Exmoor Blue Cheese?

• Texture: Crescenza Cheese (very soft, creamy), Exmoor Blue Cheese (Soft)
• Rind: Crescenza Cheese (none), Exmoor Blue Cheese (Treated with Penicillium candidum)
• Aging: Crescenza Cheese (eaten very young), Exmoor Blue Cheese (3 to 6 weeks)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Crescenza Cheese Taste Like Exmoor Blue Cheese?

Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Crescenza Cheese at eaten very young develops a different profile than Exmoor Blue Cheese at 3 to 6 weeks.

Can You Substitute Crescenza Cheese for Exmoor Blue Cheese?

In most recipes, Crescenza Cheese and Exmoor Blue Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect very soft, creamy bite and body where the recipe calls for soft.

Which Is Better, Crescenza Cheese or Exmoor Blue Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a very soft, creamy cheese, go with Crescenza Cheese. For a soft profile, Exmoor Blue Cheese is the better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Crescenza Cheese the same as Exmoor Blue Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Crescenza Cheese is typically aged eaten very young, Exmoor Blue Cheese 3 to 6 weeks.

Is Crescenza Cheese similar to Exmoor Blue Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Crescenza Cheese for Exmoor Blue Cheese?

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

Does Crescenza Cheese taste like Exmoor Blue Cheese?

They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.

What is Crescenza Cheese made of?

Crescenza Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged eaten very young. It originates in Italy.

What is Exmoor Blue Cheese made of?

Exmoor Blue Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized), using vegetarian rennet. It's typically aged 3 to 6 weeks.

Which should I choose, Crescenza Cheese or Exmoor Blue Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Crescenza Cheese is very soft, creamy, while Exmoor Blue Cheese is soft.