Feta Cheese vs Mont d'Or Cheese

Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft and made from cow milk, originating in France.

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 Mont d'Or Cheese?

Mont d'Or is a seasonal soft cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of France and Switzerland, wrapped in a band of spruce that gives it its flavor. It sells from September 10 to May 10 and is usually warmed in its spruce box and eaten like fondue.

What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Mont d'Or Cheese?

• Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Mont d'Or Cheese (France)
• Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Mont d'Or Cheese (Cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw), Mont d'Or Cheese (Raw)
• Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Mont d'Or Cheese (Soft)
• Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Mont d'Or Cheese (Washed rind)
• Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days)
• Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Mont d'Or Cheese (Resinous, mild to pungent)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent character. 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 Mont d'Or Cheese leans toward known for its creamy taste and powerful aroma; gets resinous flavor from spruce bark. Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days.

Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

Feta Cheese can stand in for Mont d'Or 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 soft. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent notes.

Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Mont d'Or 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 soft profile, Mont d'Or Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Mont d'Or Cheese fits dishes calling for resinous, mild to pungent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Feta Cheese the same as Mont d'Or Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Mont d'Or Cheese comes from France. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Mont d'Or Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Feta Cheese is typically aged 2 months to longer, Mont d'Or Cheese 21 to 60 days.

Is Feta Cheese similar to Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Does Feta Cheese taste like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Mont d'Or Cheese is resinous, mild to pungent.

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 Mont d'Or Cheese made of?

Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 21 to 60 days. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft.