Fontal Cheese vs Queso de Guía
Fontal Cheese
Queso de Guía
Fontal Cheese is a cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Queso de Guía is dense, compact, sometimes creamy and made from cow, goat, and sheep milk.
What Is Fontal Cheese?
Fontal is one of the names that grew out of fontina, the cow's milk cheese first produced in Italy. Cheeses under derivative names like fontal are made in other parts of Italy and in Denmark, Sweden, Quebec, France, Argentina, and the United States.
What Is Queso de Guía?
Queso de Guía is a Spanish cheese from Gran Canaria, made mostly from sheep's milk with some cow and goat milk added. It carries a protected designation of origin granted in 2006 and is sold either soft and creamy or hard and sharp.
What's the Difference Between Fontal Cheese and Queso de Guía?
- Milk type: Fontal Cheese (cow), Queso de Guía (Sheep (Canary Island breed), with up to 40% cow and 10% goat milk)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Fontal Cheese | Queso de Guía | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Italy | Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain |
| Milk Type | Cow | Sheep (Canary Island breed), with up to 40% cow and 10% goat milk |
| Milk Treatment | — | Raw, for the artesano designation |
| Texture | — | Dense, compact, sometimes creamy |
| Rind | — | Ivory when young, thick and dark brown when mature |
| Aging | — | 15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature) |
| Taste | — | Salty and acidic, with occasional bitterness and sharpness |
Taste Comparison: Does Fontal Cheese Taste Like Queso de Guía?
Their flavor profiles are distinct.
Can You Substitute Fontal Cheese for Queso de Guía?
Fontal Cheese can stand in for Queso de Guía in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe.
Which Is Better, Fontal Cheese or Queso de Guía?
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 Fontal Cheese the same as Queso de Guía?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Fontal Cheese is made from cow milk; Queso de Guía uses cow, goat, and sheep.
Is Fontal Cheese similar to Queso de Guía?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Fontal Cheese for Queso de Guía?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Fontal Cheese taste like Queso de Guía?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Fontal Cheese made of?
Fontal Cheese is made from cow milk. It originates in Italy.
What is Queso de Guía made of?
Queso de Guía is made from cow, goat, and sheep milk (raw, for the artesano designation), using animal rennet and/or vegetable rennet (cynara cardunculus var. ferocissima, cynara scolymus) and/or starter cultures rennet. It's typically aged 15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature).
Which should I choose, Fontal Cheese or Queso de Guía?
It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.