Dorset Blue Cheese vs Feta Cheese

Dorset Blue Cheese is a firm cow-milk cheese, while Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine and made from goat and sheep milk, originating in Greece.

What Is Dorset Blue Cheese?

Dorset Blue Cheese is a lightly pressed, firm-textured blue cheese made in Dorset, England. It has a uniform color with irregular blue-green veining and a rough, dry brown mold coating. The cheese has a piquant, peppery flavor that ranges from mild to strong. Made using skimmed cow’s milk, the tradition of using lower-fat milk dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries when it was made from residual milk left after cream skimming. The production process includes hand-breaking curds, salting, light pressing, and maturing for 12 to 20 weeks. The cheese is pierced after four weeks to develop its signature blue veining. Dorset’s lush pasture, supported by Oxford clay soil, contributes to the unique flavor of the milk used in the cheese.

What Is Feta Cheese?

Feta is a brined curd white cheese from Greece, made traditionally from sheep's milk, or from a mixture of sheep and goat's milk. It is crumbly with a slightly grainy texture and has a salty, tangy flavor. Feta is commonly used in salads, pastries, and as a table cheese, and is central to Greek cuisine.

What's the Difference Between Dorset Blue Cheese and Feta Cheese?

• Milk type: Dorset Blue Cheese (Cow), Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk)
• Milk treatment: Dorset Blue Cheese (Skimmed), Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw)
• Texture: Dorset Blue Cheese (Firm), Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine)
• Rind: Dorset Blue Cheese (Rough, dry brown mold coating), Feta Cheese (None)
• Aging: Dorset Blue Cheese (12 to 20 weeks), Feta Cheese (2 months to longer)
• Taste: Dorset Blue Cheese (Piquant, peppery, mild to strong), Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Dorset Blue Cheese Taste Like Feta Cheese?

Dorset Blue Cheese reads as piquant, peppery, mild to strong, while Feta Cheese brings sharp to mild character. Aging plays into this as well. Dorset Blue Cheese at 12 to 20 weeks develops a different profile than Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer.

Can You Substitute Dorset Blue Cheese for Feta Cheese?

Dorset Blue Cheese can stand in for Feta Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect firm bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, white, aged in brine. Flavor-wise, Dorset Blue Cheese reads as piquant, peppery, mild to strong while Feta Cheese brings sharp to mild notes.

Which Is Better, Dorset Blue Cheese or Feta Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a firm cheese, go with Dorset Blue Cheese. For a soft, white, aged in brine profile, Feta Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Dorset Blue Cheese suits recipes that want piquant, peppery, mild to strong notes, while Feta Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp to mild.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dorset Blue Cheese the same as Feta Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Dorset Blue Cheese is made from cow milk; Feta Cheese uses goat and sheep. Aging also differs: Dorset Blue Cheese is typically aged 12 to 20 weeks, Feta Cheese 2 months to longer.

Is Dorset Blue Cheese similar to Feta Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Dorset Blue Cheese for Feta Cheese?

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

Does Dorset Blue Cheese taste like Feta Cheese?

Dorset Blue Cheese reads as piquant, peppery, mild to strong, while Feta Cheese is sharp to mild.

What is Dorset Blue Cheese made of?

Dorset Blue Cheese is made from cow milk (skimmed). It's typically aged 12 to 20 weeks.

What is Feta Cheese made of?

Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk (pasteurized, sometimes raw). It's typically aged 2 months to longer. It originates in Greece.

Which should I choose, Dorset Blue Cheese or Feta Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Dorset Blue Cheese is firm, while Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine.