Feta Cheese vs Queijo de Évora
Feta Cheese
Queijo de Évora
Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Queijo de Évora is semi-hard and made from sheep milk.
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 Queijo de Évora?
Queijo de Évora is a PDO ewe's milk cheese from Évora, in Portugal's Alentejo. It is cured, hard or semi-hard, yellowish in color, and known for a slightly acidic flavor with a light peppery bite.
What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Queijo de Évora?
- Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Queijo de Évora (Ewe's milk)
- Milk treatment: Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw), Queijo de Évora (Raw)
- Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Queijo de Évora (Semi-hard)
- Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Queijo de Évora (Sealed)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feta Cheese | Queijo de Évora | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | — |
| Specific Origin | Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture | Évora, Alentejo, Portugal |
| Milk Type | Goat's and sheep's milk | Ewe's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized, sometimes raw | Raw |
| Texture | Soft, white, aged in brine | Semi-hard |
| Rind | None | Sealed |
| Aging | 2 months to longer | — |
| Taste | Sharp to mild | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Queijo de Évora?
Their flavor profiles are distinct.
Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Queijo de Évora?
Feta Cheese can stand in for Queijo de Évora 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 semi-hard.
Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Queijo de Évora?
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 semi-hard profile, Queijo de Évora is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Feta Cheese the same as Queijo de Évora?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Queijo de Évora uses sheep.
Is Feta Cheese similar to Queijo de Évora?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Queijo de Évora?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Feta Cheese taste like Queijo de Évora?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
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 Queijo de Évora made of?
Queijo de Évora is made from sheep milk (raw), using cardoon (cynara cardunculus) rennet.
Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Queijo de Évora?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine, while Queijo de Évora is semi-hard.