Exmoor Blue Cheese vs Feta Cheese
Exmoor Blue Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese, while Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine and made from goat and sheep milk, originating in Greece.
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 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 Exmoor Blue Cheese and Feta Cheese?
- Milk type: Exmoor Blue Cheese (Cow), Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk)
- Milk treatment: Exmoor Blue Cheese (Unpasteurized), Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw)
- Texture: Exmoor Blue Cheese (Soft), Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine)
- Rind: Exmoor Blue Cheese (Treated with Penicillium candidum), Feta Cheese (None)
- Aging: Exmoor Blue Cheese (3 to 6 weeks), Feta Cheese (2 months to longer)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Exmoor Blue Cheese | Feta Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | — | Greece |
| Specific Origin | Devon And Somerset, England | Throughout Greece |
| Milk Type | Cow | Goat's and sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Unpasteurized | Pasteurized, sometimes raw |
| Texture | Soft | Soft, white, aged in brine |
| Rind | Treated with Penicillium candidum | None |
| Aging | 3 to 6 weeks | 2 months to longer |
| Taste | — | Sharp to mild |
Taste Comparison: Does Exmoor Blue Cheese Taste Like Feta Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Exmoor Blue Cheese at 3 to 6 weeks develops a different profile than Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer.
Can You Substitute Exmoor Blue Cheese for Feta Cheese?
Exmoor Blue Cheese can stand in for Feta Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, white, aged in brine.
Which Is Better, Exmoor Blue Cheese or Feta Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Exmoor Blue Cheese. For a soft, white, aged in brine profile, Feta Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Exmoor Blue Cheese the same as Feta Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Exmoor Blue Cheese is made from cow milk; Feta Cheese uses goat and sheep. Aging also differs: Exmoor Blue Cheese is typically aged 3 to 6 weeks, Feta Cheese 2 months to longer.
Is Exmoor Blue Cheese similar to Feta Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Exmoor Blue Cheese for Feta Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Exmoor Blue Cheese taste like Feta Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
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.
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, Exmoor Blue Cheese or Feta Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Exmoor Blue Cheese is soft, while Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine.