Fontal Cheese vs Queso Los Beyos
Fontal Cheese
Queso Los Beyos
Fontal Cheese is a cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Queso Los Beyos is hard to semi-hard, closed, friable, crumbly, minimal elasticity and made from cow, goat, or 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 Los Beyos?
Queso de Los Beyos is a protected geographical indication cheese from the Los Beyos gorge, shared by Ponga and Amieva in Asturias and Oseja de Sajambre in Leon, Spain. It is a small smoked cheese of cow, goat, or sheep milk, semi-hard to hard, with a mild acidic tang.
What's the Difference Between Fontal Cheese and Queso Los Beyos?
- Milk type: Fontal Cheese (cow), Queso Los Beyos (Cow’s, sheep’s, or goat’s milk (never mixed))
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Fontal Cheese | Queso Los Beyos | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Italy | Oseja De Sajambre (Castile-Leon), Ponga, And Amieva (Asturias) |
| Milk Type | Cow | Cow’s, sheep’s, or goat’s milk (never mixed) |
| Milk Treatment | — | Raw or pasteurized |
| Texture | — | Hard to semi-hard, closed, friable, crumbly, minimal elasticity |
| Rind | — | Thin, coarse, creamy yellow to light brown |
| Aging | — | Minimum 15 days, or 60 days if made from raw milk |
| Taste | — | Mild (cow’s milk), more intense (sheep’s and goat’s milk) |
Taste Comparison: Does Fontal Cheese Taste Like Queso Los Beyos?
Their flavor profiles are distinct.
Can You Substitute Fontal Cheese for Queso Los Beyos?
Fontal Cheese can stand in for Queso Los Beyos in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe.
Which Is Better, Fontal Cheese or Queso Los Beyos?
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 Los Beyos?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Fontal Cheese is made from cow milk; Queso Los Beyos uses cow, goat, or sheep.
Is Fontal Cheese similar to Queso Los Beyos?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Fontal Cheese for Queso Los Beyos?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Fontal Cheese taste like Queso Los Beyos?
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 Los Beyos made of?
Queso Los Beyos is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (raw or pasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged minimum 15 days, or 60 days if made from raw milk.
Which should I choose, Fontal Cheese or Queso Los Beyos?
It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.