Époisses Cheese vs Mahón-Menorca Cheese

In this article, we’ll explore the answers to the most common questions about Époisses Cheese and Mahón-Menorca Cheese, including:

  • "What is the difference between Époisses Cheese and Mahón-Menorca Cheese?"
  • "Is Époisses Cheese and Mahón-Menorca Cheese the same?"
  • "How does Époisses Cheese compare to Mahón-Menorca Cheese cheese?"
  • "How does the taste of Époisses Cheese compare to Mahón-Menorca Cheese?"
  • "Is Époisses Cheese or Mahón-Menorca Cheese better?"

Époisses Cheese Overview

Époisses is a strongly flavored, washed-rind cheese from Burgundy, made from cow's milk. It is known for its creamy texture and rich, intense flavor with hints of barnyard and bacon. The rind is washed with Marc de Bourgogne brandy during maturation, contributing to its characteristic strong smell and deep orange color. Époisses is typically eaten with crusty bread or used to add depth to sauces.

Mahón-Menorca Cheese Overview

Mahón-Menorca is a cow's milk cheese from the island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands. It has a square shape with rounded edges and is known for its orange rind and soft to hard texture depending on age. The flavor is slightly salty and tangy, with buttery notes in younger cheeses and a sharper taste in older ones.

Comparing the Two Cheeses

Ranking

Époisses is ranked #67 out of 376 types.

Mahón-Menorca is ranked #210 out of 376 types.

Country of Origin

Époisses Cheese comes from France. Mahón-Menorca Cheese originated from Spain.

Certification

Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Époisses Cheese has a PDO (1996), AOC (1991). Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a PDO (1985).

Milk Type and Treatment

Époisses Cheese is made with cow milk. Mahón-Menorca Cheese is made with cow or sheep milk that is typically raw.

Composition and Texture

Époisses's texture can be described as "soft and creamy". Mahón-Menorca's texture can be described as "firm".

Flavor and Aroma

Époisses Cheese has a subtle, fruity, distinctive, balanced flavor. Époisses's aroma can be described as "undergrowth". Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a salty and spicy flavor. Mahón-Menorca's aroma can be described as "lactic, buttery".

Appearance and Aging

Époisses Cheese's appearance is colored orange ivory to brick red , is available in small and large sizes and is aged minimum of 28 days . Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a color of ivory-yellow to orangey or brownish gray , comes in parallelepiped shape and has an aging period of tender: 21-60 days, semi-cured: 2-5 months, vintage: >5 months .

Rind and Rennet Type

Époisses Cheese's rind is described as washed-rind . Mahón-Menorca Cheese's rind is described as characteristic orangish , with vegetable (cynara cardunculus) rennet.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Époisses Cheese Mahón-Menorca Cheese
Country of Origin France Spain
Specific Origin Auxois and Terre Plaine, Burgundy Menorca, Balearic Islands
Certification PDO (1996), AOC (1991) PDO (1985)
Milk Type Cow's Milk Friesian, Menorcan, Brown Alpine cow’s milk, some ewe’s milk (max 5%)
Milk Treatment Raw or any authorized preservation technology
Rind Washed-rind Characteristic orangish
Texture Soft and creamy Firm
Flavor Subtle, fruity, distinctive, balanced Salty and spicy
Aroma Undergrowth Lactic, buttery
Colors Orange ivory to brick red Ivory-yellow to orangey or brownish gray
Forms Small and large sizes Parallelepiped shape
Age Minimum of 28 days Tender: 21-60 days, Semi-cured: 2-5 months, Vintage: >5 months
Rennet Type Vegetable (Cynara cardunculus)

Compare Époisses Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Mahón-Menorca Cheese to Other Cheeses