Feta Cheese vs Tulum Cheese
Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Tulum Cheese is a goat-milk cheese, originating in Turkey.
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 Tulum Cheese?
Tulum is a Turkish goat's milk cheese ripened inside a goatskin casing, which is what the word tulum means in Turkish. It is made in several regions, and versions from Erzincan, İzmir, Divle, Çimi and Kargı each taste different.
What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Tulum Cheese?
- Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Tulum Cheese (Turkey)
- Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Tulum Cheese (goat)
- Milk treatment: Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw), Tulum Cheese (raw)
- Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), Tulum Cheese (about 6 months)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feta Cheese | Tulum Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | Turkey |
| Specific Origin | Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture | Turkey |
| Milk Type | Goat's and sheep's milk | Goat |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized, sometimes raw | Raw |
| Texture | Soft, white, aged in brine | — |
| Rind | None | — |
| Aging | 2 months to longer | About 6 months |
| Taste | Sharp to mild | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Tulum Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than Tulum Cheese at about 6 months.
Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Tulum Cheese?
Feta Cheese can stand in for Tulum Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe.
Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Tulum Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Feta Cheese the same as Tulum Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Tulum Cheese comes from Turkey. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Tulum Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Feta Cheese is typically aged 2 months to longer, Tulum Cheese about 6 months.
Is Feta Cheese similar to Tulum Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Tulum Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Feta Cheese taste like Tulum 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 Tulum Cheese made of?
Tulum Cheese is made from goat milk (raw). It's typically aged about 6 months. It originates in Turkey.
Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Tulum Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.