Feta Cheese vs Queso de Murcia
Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Queso de Murcia is soft and elastic (fresh) / firm and compact (cured) and made from goat milk, originating in Spain.
Buy Feta Cheese
Buy Queso de Murcia
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 Queso de Murcia?
Queso de Murcia is a fatty goat's milk cheese from south-east Spain with Protected Designation of Origin status, made only from Murcian goats in registered herds. It is sold fresh and very white, or cured for at least sixty days until firm.
What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Queso de Murcia?
- Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Queso de Murcia (Spain)
- Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Queso de Murcia (Goat’s milk)
- Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Queso de Murcia (Soft and elastic (fresh) / Firm and compact (cured))
- Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Queso de Murcia (None (fresh) / Hard, smooth (cured))
- Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), Queso de Murcia (Not aged (fresh) / Minimum 60-120 days (cured))
- Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Queso de Murcia (Mild, slightly sweet (fresh) / Persistent, lactic, with vegetal and roasted notes (cured))
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feta Cheese | Queso de Murcia | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | Spain |
| Specific Origin | Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture | Murcia Region |
| Milk Type | Goat's and sheep's milk | Goat’s milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized, sometimes raw | — |
| Texture | Soft, white, aged in brine | Soft and elastic (fresh) / Firm and compact (cured) |
| Rind | None | None (fresh) / Hard, smooth (cured) |
| Aging | 2 months to longer | Not aged (fresh) / Minimum 60-120 days (cured) |
| Taste | Sharp to mild | Mild, slightly sweet (fresh) / Persistent, lactic, with vegetal and roasted notes (cured) |
Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Queso de Murcia?
Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Queso de Murcia brings mild, slightly sweet (fresh) / persistent, lactic, with vegetal and roasted notes (cured) character. On the nose, Feta Cheese offers ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, contrasted with Queso de Murcia's low intensity (fresh) / medium to high intensity with lactic and animal notes (cured). 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 Queso de Murcia leans toward fresh milk, cream (fresh) / butter, hay, dried fruit, caramel (cured). Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than Queso de Murcia at not aged (fresh) / minimum 60-120 days (cured).
Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Queso de Murcia?
Feta Cheese can stand in for Queso de Murcia 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 and elastic (fresh) / firm and compact (cured). Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Queso de Murcia brings mild, slightly sweet (fresh) / persistent, lactic, with vegetal and roasted notes (cured) notes.
Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Queso de Murcia?
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 and elastic (fresh) / firm and compact (cured) profile, Queso de Murcia is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Queso de Murcia fits dishes calling for mild, slightly sweet (fresh) / persistent, lactic, with vegetal and roasted notes (cured).
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Feta Cheese the same as Queso de Murcia?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Queso de Murcia comes from Spain. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Queso de Murcia uses goat. Aging also differs: Feta Cheese is typically aged 2 months to longer, Queso de Murcia not aged (fresh) / minimum 60-120 days (cured).
Is Feta Cheese similar to Queso de Murcia?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Queso de Murcia?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Feta Cheese taste like Queso de Murcia?
Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Queso de Murcia is mild, slightly sweet (fresh) / persistent, lactic, with vegetal and roasted notes (cured). Aromas also diverge. Feta Cheese leans ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, and Queso de Murcia is closer to low intensity (fresh) / medium to high intensity with lactic and animal notes (cured).
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 Queso de Murcia made of?
Queso de Murcia is made from goat milk, using animal rennet. It's typically aged not aged (fresh) / minimum 60-120 days (cured). It originates in Spain.
Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Queso de Murcia?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine, while Queso de Murcia is soft and elastic (fresh) / firm and compact (cured).