Exmoor Blue Cheese vs Stelvio Cheese

Exmoor Blue Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese, while Stelvio Cheese is compact, pliable, and springy and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.

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 Stelvio Cheese?

Stelvio, known in German as Stilfser, is a protected designation of origin cow's milk cheese from the Autonomous Province of Bolzano in northern Italy. It is known for its yellow to orange-brown rind, springy pale yellow paste, and pronounced, sometimes sharp taste.

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

• Milk treatment: Exmoor Blue Cheese (Unpasteurized), Stelvio Cheese (Lightly skimmed to regulate fat content)
• Texture: Exmoor Blue Cheese (Soft), Stelvio Cheese (Compact, pliable, and springy)
• Rind: Exmoor Blue Cheese (Treated with Penicillium candidum), Stelvio Cheese (Yellow to orange-brown)
• Aging: Exmoor Blue Cheese (3 to 6 weeks), Stelvio Cheese (Minimum of sixty days)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Exmoor Blue Cheese Taste Like Stelvio 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 Stelvio Cheese at minimum of sixty days.

Can You Substitute Exmoor Blue Cheese for Stelvio Cheese?

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

Which Is Better, Exmoor Blue Cheese or Stelvio 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 compact, pliable, and springy profile, Stelvio Cheese is the better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Exmoor Blue Cheese the same as Stelvio Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Exmoor Blue Cheese is typically aged 3 to 6 weeks, Stelvio Cheese minimum of sixty days.

Is Exmoor Blue Cheese similar to Stelvio Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Exmoor Blue Cheese for Stelvio Cheese?

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

Does Exmoor Blue Cheese taste like Stelvio 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 Stelvio Cheese made of?

Stelvio Cheese is made from cow milk (lightly skimmed to regulate fat content), using calf rennet or other rennet including plant origin, not genetically modified rennet. It's typically aged minimum of sixty days. It originates in Italy.

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

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Exmoor Blue Cheese is soft, while Stelvio Cheese is compact, pliable, and springy.