Feta Cheese vs Glarner Alpkäse Cheese
Feta Cheese
Glarner Alpkäse Cheese
Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Glarner Alpkäse Cheese is a cow-milk cheese.
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 Glarner Alpkäse Cheese?
Glarner Alpkäse is a Swiss raw cow's milk cheese made on the alpine pastures of Glarus during the summer grazing season. The wheels have no holes and reach the market in mild, spicy and sharp grades. It has held AOP protection since 2014.
What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Glarner Alpkäse Cheese?
- Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Glarner Alpkäse Cheese (cow)
- Milk treatment: Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw), Glarner Alpkäse Cheese (raw)
- Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Glarner Alpkäse Cheese (natural, formed in a salt bath)
- Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Glarner Alpkäse Cheese (mild when young, more pungent with longer ripening)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feta Cheese | Glarner Alpkäse Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | — |
| Specific Origin | Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture | Glarus, Switzerland |
| Milk Type | Goat's and sheep's milk | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized, sometimes raw | Raw |
| Texture | Soft, white, aged in brine | — |
| Rind | None | Natural, formed in a salt bath |
| Aging | 2 months to longer | — |
| Taste | Sharp to mild | Mild when young, more pungent with longer ripening |
Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Glarner Alpkäse Cheese?
Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Glarner Alpkäse Cheese brings mild when young, more pungent with longer ripening character.
Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Glarner Alpkäse Cheese?
Feta Cheese can stand in for Glarner Alpkäse Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Glarner Alpkäse Cheese brings mild when young, more pungent with longer ripening notes.
Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Glarner Alpkäse Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Glarner Alpkäse Cheese fits dishes calling for mild when young, more pungent with longer ripening.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Feta Cheese the same as Glarner Alpkäse Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Glarner Alpkäse Cheese uses cow.
Is Feta Cheese similar to Glarner Alpkäse Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Glarner Alpkäse Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Feta Cheese taste like Glarner Alpkäse Cheese?
Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Glarner Alpkäse Cheese is mild when young, more pungent with longer ripening.
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 Glarner Alpkäse Cheese made of?
Glarner Alpkäse Cheese is made from cow milk (raw).
Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Glarner Alpkäse Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.