Feta Cheese vs L'Etivaz Cheese
Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while L'Etivaz Cheese is hard and made from cow milk, originating in Switzerland.
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 L'Etivaz Cheese?
L'Etivaz is a hard raw cow's milk cheese from the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, made only during the summer Alpine grazing season in copper cauldrons over wood fires. It tastes close to Gruyère surchoix, fruity and slightly nutty.
What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and L'Etivaz Cheese?
- Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), L'Etivaz Cheese (Switzerland)
- Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), L'Etivaz Cheese (cow's milk)
- Milk treatment: Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw), L'Etivaz Cheese (unpasteurized)
- Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), L'Etivaz Cheese (hard)
- Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), L'Etivaz Cheese (5 to 13 months)
- Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), L'Etivaz Cheese (fruity, slightly nutty)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feta Cheese | L'Etivaz Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | Switzerland |
| Specific Origin | Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture | Vaud, Switzerland |
| Milk Type | Goat's and sheep's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized, sometimes raw | Unpasteurized |
| Texture | Soft, white, aged in brine | Hard |
| Rind | None | — |
| Aging | 2 months to longer | 5 to 13 months |
| Taste | Sharp to mild | Fruity, slightly nutty |
Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like L'Etivaz Cheese?
Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while L'Etivaz Cheese brings fruity, slightly nutty character. On the nose, Feta Cheese offers ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, contrasted with L'Etivaz Cheese's smokey. 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 L'Etivaz Cheese leans toward creamier and less sharp than antique gruyère, smooth, salty, varying with the pasture soil. Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than L'Etivaz Cheese at 5 to 13 months.
Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for L'Etivaz Cheese?
Feta Cheese can stand in for L'Etivaz 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 hard. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while L'Etivaz Cheese brings fruity, slightly nutty notes.
Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or L'Etivaz 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 hard profile, L'Etivaz Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while L'Etivaz Cheese fits dishes calling for fruity, slightly nutty.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Feta Cheese the same as L'Etivaz Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while L'Etivaz Cheese comes from Switzerland. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; L'Etivaz Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Feta Cheese is typically aged 2 months to longer, L'Etivaz Cheese 5 to 13 months.
Is Feta Cheese similar to L'Etivaz Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Feta Cheese for L'Etivaz Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Feta Cheese taste like L'Etivaz Cheese?
Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while L'Etivaz Cheese is fruity, slightly nutty. Aromas also diverge. Feta Cheese leans ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, and L'Etivaz Cheese is closer to smokey.
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 L'Etivaz Cheese made of?
L'Etivaz Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized). It's typically aged 5 to 13 months. It originates in Switzerland.
Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or L'Etivaz Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine, while L'Etivaz Cheese is hard.