Feta Cheese vs Latteria Navel Cheese

Feta Cheese is a soft goat or sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Latteria Navel Cheese is hard, soft-ripened and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.

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 Latteria Navel Cheese?

Latteria Navel is a cheese from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions of Italy. Made from pasteurized cow's milk, it features a hard, soft-ripened texture. The cheese has a straw-colored interior and a natural rind. It is known for its full-flavored taste and aromatic scent. This cheese is traditionally enjoyed as part of an antipasto platter or paired with crusty bread and a glass of wine. Its rich flavors make it a popular choice among cheese enthusiasts looking for something flavorful and aromatic.

What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Latteria Navel Cheese?

• Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Latteria Navel Cheese (Italy)
• Milk type: Feta Cheese (Sheep's milk, sometimes with goat's milk), Latteria Navel Cheese (Cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw), Latteria Navel Cheese (pasteurized)
• Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft), Latteria Navel Cheese (Hard, soft-ripened)
• Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Latteria Navel Cheese (natural)
• Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Latteria Navel Cheese (full-flavored)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Latteria Navel Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Latteria Navel Cheese brings full-flavored character. On the nose, Feta Cheese offers ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, contrasted with Latteria Navel Cheese's aromatic.

Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Latteria Navel Cheese?

Feta Cheese can stand in for Latteria Navel 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 hard, soft-ripened. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Latteria Navel Cheese brings full-flavored notes.

Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Latteria Navel Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Feta Cheese. For a hard, soft-ripened profile, Latteria Navel Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Latteria Navel Cheese fits dishes calling for full-flavored.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Feta Cheese the same as Latteria Navel Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Latteria Navel Cheese comes from Italy. Feta Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk; Latteria Navel Cheese uses cow.

Is Feta Cheese similar to Latteria Navel Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Latteria Navel Cheese?

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

Does Feta Cheese taste like Latteria Navel Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Latteria Navel Cheese is full-flavored. Aromas also diverge. Feta Cheese leans ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, and Latteria Navel Cheese is closer to aromatic.

What is Feta Cheese made of?

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

What is Latteria Navel Cheese made of?

Latteria Navel Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It originates in Italy.

Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Latteria Navel Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, while Latteria Navel Cheese is hard, soft-ripened.