Feta Cheese vs Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese
Feta Cheese
Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese
Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is semi-soft and made from goat 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 Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Sainte-Maure de Touraine is an unpasteurized goat cheese from the Touraine province of France, sold as a small ash-rolled log with a straw running through its centre. The straw carries the AOC seal and a number identifying the producer.
What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
- Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (France)
- Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (goat’s milk)
- Milk treatment: Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Raw)
- Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (semi-soft)
- Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Gray-blue)
- Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Minimum of ten days)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feta Cheese | Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | France |
| Specific Origin | Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture | Indre-Et-Loire And Bordering Cantons |
| Milk Type | Goat's and sheep's milk | Goat’s milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized, sometimes raw | Raw |
| Texture | Soft, white, aged in brine | Semi-soft |
| Rind | None | Gray-blue |
| Aging | 2 months to longer | Minimum of ten days |
| Taste | Sharp to mild | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese at minimum of ten days.
Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Feta Cheese can stand in for Sainte-Maure de Touraine 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 semi-soft.
Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Sainte-Maure de Touraine 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 semi-soft profile, Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Feta Cheese the same as Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese comes from France. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Feta Cheese is typically aged 2 months to longer, Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese minimum of ten days.
Is Feta Cheese similar to Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Feta Cheese taste like Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
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 Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese made of?
Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is made from goat milk (raw). It's typically aged minimum of ten days. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is semi-soft.