Emmental Cheese vs Fromage de Herve Cheese

Emmental Cheese is a hard or medium-hard cow-milk cheese from Switzerland, while Fromage de Herve Cheese is homogeneous, firm, unctuous and made from cow milk.

What Is Emmental Cheese?

Emmental is a yellow, medium-hard Swiss cheese from the Emme Valley, known for the natural holes that run through it. The taste is savoury but mild. It is eaten cold in chunks or slices and melted into dishes such as gratins.

What Is Fromage de Herve Cheese?

Fromage de Herve is a Belgian washed-rind soft cheese made from raw cow's milk in the Herve area near Liege. Produced since the 15th century, it is best known for the powerful smell it develops as Brevibacterium linens works on the rind.

What's the Difference Between Emmental Cheese and Fromage de Herve Cheese?

• Milk treatment: Emmental Cheese (Raw), Fromage de Herve Cheese (Untreated or pasteurized)
• Texture: Emmental Cheese (Hard or medium-hard), Fromage de Herve Cheese (Homogeneous, firm, unctuous)
• Rind: Emmental Cheese (natural), Fromage de Herve Cheese (Washed rind, brown, slightly rosy)
• Aging: Emmental Cheese (4 months to over 1 year), Fromage de Herve Cheese (Five to six weeks for "doux", two months for "piquant")
• Taste: Emmental Cheese (Nutty, sweet), Fromage de Herve Cheese (Mature, with varying degrees of ripeness)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Emmental Cheese Taste Like Fromage de Herve Cheese?

Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Fromage de Herve Cheese brings mature, with varying degrees of ripeness character. Aging plays into this as well. Emmental Cheese at 4 months to over 1 year develops a different profile than Fromage de Herve Cheese at five to six weeks for "doux", two months for "piquant".

Can You Substitute Emmental Cheese for Fromage de Herve Cheese?

In most recipes, Emmental Cheese and Fromage de Herve Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect hard or medium-hard bite and body where the recipe calls for homogeneous, firm, unctuous. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet while Fromage de Herve Cheese brings mature, with varying degrees of ripeness notes.

Which Is Better, Emmental Cheese or Fromage de Herve Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a hard or medium-hard cheese, go with Emmental Cheese. For a homogeneous, firm, unctuous profile, Fromage de Herve Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, sweet notes, while Fromage de Herve Cheese fits dishes calling for mature, with varying degrees of ripeness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Emmental Cheese the same as Fromage de Herve Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Emmental Cheese is typically aged 4 months to over 1 year, Fromage de Herve Cheese five to six weeks for "doux", two months for "piquant".

Is Emmental Cheese similar to Fromage de Herve Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Emmental Cheese for Fromage de Herve Cheese?

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

Does Emmental Cheese taste like Fromage de Herve Cheese?

Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Fromage de Herve Cheese is mature, with varying degrees of ripeness.

What is Emmental Cheese made of?

Emmental Cheese is made from cow milk (raw). It's typically aged 4 months to over 1 year. It originates in Switzerland.

What is Fromage de Herve Cheese made of?

Fromage de Herve Cheese is made from cow milk (untreated or pasteurized), using used to provoke curdling rennet. It's typically aged five to six weeks for "doux", two months for "piquant".

Which should I choose, Emmental Cheese or Fromage de Herve Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Emmental Cheese is hard or medium-hard, while Fromage de Herve Cheese is homogeneous, firm, unctuous.