Feta Cheese vs Geitost Cheese

Q: Is Feta Cheese the same as Geitost Cheese?

No. Feta Cheese and Geitost Cheese are distinct cheeses from Greece and Norway respectively. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Geitost Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Feta Cheese for Geitost Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Geitost Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture and flavor rows in the table above are the best guide. Pick the one whose profile fits your recipe or board.

Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Geitost Cheese is semi-hard, whey and made from cow and goat milk, originating in Norway.

What Is Feta Cheese?

Feta is a Greek brined white cheese made from sheep's milk or a mix of sheep and goat's milk. It is crumbly and slightly grainy, tangy and salty, and it anchors dishes like Greek salad and spanakopita.

What Is Geitost Cheese?

Geitost is the Norwegian brown whey cheese made with goat's milk in the mix. Boiling milk, cream and whey caramelizes the milk sugars, which gives it a deep brown color and a sweet, caramel taste with a tang behind it.

What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Geitost Cheese?

Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Geitost Cheese (Norway)
Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Geitost Cheese (cow's and goat's milk)
Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Geitost Cheese (semi-hard, whey)
Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Geitost Cheese (natural)
Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), Geitost Cheese (not aged)
Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Geitost Cheese (burnt caramel, sweet)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Feta Cheese	Geitost Cheese
Country of Origin	Greece	Norway
Specific Origin	Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture	Norway
Milk Type	Goat's and sheep's milk	Cow's and goat's milk
Milk Treatment	Pasteurized, sometimes raw	—
Texture	Soft, white, aged in brine	Semi-hard, whey
Rind	None	Natural
Aging	2 months to longer	Not aged
Taste	Sharp to mild	Burnt caramel, sweet

Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Geitost Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Geitost Cheese brings burnt caramel, sweet character. On the nose, Feta Cheese offers ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, contrasted with Geitost Cheese's caramel. More specifically, Feta Cheese shows sharp, dry, hard to mild, rich, creamy depending on production methods, breed of animals, season, and diet. can be tangy or creamy. flavors of sheep’s milk, grass, and clover. variety ranges from region to region, and producer to producer., while Geitost Cheese leans toward sweet and caramel-like, with a tang that is sharper in the goat's milk versions. Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than Geitost Cheese at not aged.

Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Geitost Cheese?

Feta Cheese can stand in for Geitost Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft, white, aged in brine bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-hard, whey. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Geitost Cheese brings burnt caramel, sweet notes.

Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Geitost Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft, white, aged in brine cheese, go with Feta Cheese. For a semi-hard, whey profile, Geitost Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Geitost Cheese fits dishes calling for burnt caramel, sweet.

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Feta Cheese the same as Geitost Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Geitost Cheese comes from Norway. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Geitost Cheese uses cow and goat. Aging also differs: Feta Cheese is typically aged 2 months to longer, Geitost Cheese not aged.

Is Feta Cheese similar to Geitost Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Geitost Cheese?

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

Does Feta Cheese taste like Geitost Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Geitost Cheese is burnt caramel, sweet. Aromas also diverge. Feta Cheese leans ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, and Geitost Cheese is closer to caramel.

What is Feta Cheese made of?

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

What is Geitost Cheese made of?

Geitost Cheese is made from cow and goat milk. It's typically aged not aged. It originates in Norway.

Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Geitost Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine, while Geitost Cheese is semi-hard, whey.