Feta Cheese vs Niolo Cheese

Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Niolo Cheese is soft and made from goat or sheep 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 Niolo Cheese?

Niolo is a Corsican sheep's or goat's milk cheese made only in the Niolo region, the high valley of the Golo. It is a flat square tomme with a washed ivory rind and a sticky paste that runs from mild to sharp or strong after 3 to 4 months in a damp cellar.

What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Niolo Cheese?

• Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Niolo Cheese (France)
• Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Niolo Cheese (goat's or sheep's milk)
• Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Niolo Cheese (soft)
• Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Niolo Cheese (washed)
• Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), Niolo Cheese (3 to 4 months)
• Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Niolo Cheese (mild, sharp or strong depending on aging)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Niolo Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Niolo Cheese brings mild, sharp or strong depending on aging character. On the nose, Feta Cheese offers ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, contrasted with Niolo Cheese's strong. 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 Niolo Cheese leans toward animal and spicy notes from damp cellar aging. Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than Niolo Cheese at 3 to 4 months.

Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Niolo Cheese?

Feta Cheese can stand in for Niolo 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 Niolo Cheese brings mild, sharp or strong depending on aging notes.

Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Niolo 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, Niolo Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Niolo Cheese fits dishes calling for mild, sharp or strong depending on aging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Feta Cheese the same as Niolo Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Niolo Cheese comes from France. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Niolo Cheese uses goat or sheep. Aging also differs: Feta Cheese is typically aged 2 months to longer, Niolo Cheese 3 to 4 months.

Is Feta Cheese similar to Niolo Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Niolo Cheese?

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

Does Feta Cheese taste like Niolo Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Niolo Cheese is mild, sharp or strong depending on aging. Aromas also diverge. Feta Cheese leans ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, and Niolo Cheese is closer to strong.

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 Niolo Cheese made of?

Niolo Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk. It's typically aged 3 to 4 months. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Niolo Cheese?

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