Fontina Cheese vs Havarti Cheese
Fontina Cheese
Havarti Cheese
Fontina Cheese is a semi-soft cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Havarti Cheese is smooth and made from cow milk, originating in Denmark.
What Is Fontina Cheese?
Fontina is a cow's milk cheese from Italy's Aosta Valley, made there since the 12th century. It runs semisoft to hard, tastes creamy and nutty with earthy, mushroomy notes, and melts well enough to carry a fondue.
What Is Havarti Cheese?
Havarti is a semisoft Danish cow's milk cheese, mild and buttery with very small irregular eyes running through a rindless, cream to yellow paste. It slices, grills, and melts, and the EU reserved the name for Denmark in 2019.
What's the Difference Between Fontina Cheese and Havarti Cheese?
- Origin: Fontina Cheese (Italy), Havarti Cheese (Denmark)
- Milk treatment: Fontina Cheese (Raw (for traditional Italian Fontina), Pasteurized (for most American versions)), Havarti Cheese (pasteurized)
- Texture: Fontina Cheese (Semi-Soft), Havarti Cheese (Smooth)
- Rind: Fontina Cheese (Natural, Often Washed), Havarti Cheese (rindless)
- Aging: Fontina Cheese (Typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor)), Havarti Cheese (about 3 months)
- Taste: Fontina Cheese (Mild, Buttery, Nutty), Havarti Cheese (Mild, buttery)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Fontina Cheese | Havarti Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | Denmark |
| Specific Origin | Aosta Valley, Italy | Denmark |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw (for traditional Italian Fontina), Pasteurized (for most American versions) | Pasteurized |
| Texture | Semi-Soft | Smooth |
| Rind | Natural, Often Washed | Rindless |
| Aging | Typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor) | About 3 months |
| Taste | Mild, Buttery, Nutty | Mild, buttery |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese: wines, foods, breads and more.
| Fontina Cheese | Havarti Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Pairs well with | Chardonnay, Grilled Cheese, Macaroni and Cheese, Mushrooms, Prosciutto, Sangiovese | Kolsch, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Apples, Asian Pear, Asparagus, Belgian Blonde, California Viogniers, Champagne, Crackers, Dirty Martini, Green Apple and more |
Taste Comparison: Does Fontina Cheese Taste Like Havarti Cheese?
Fontina Cheese reads as mild, buttery, nutty, while Havarti Cheese brings mild, buttery character. On the nose, Fontina Cheese offers mild to pungent (earthier in aged versions), contrasted with Havarti Cheese's buttery. More specifically, Fontina Cheese shows buttery, earthy, mildly nutty, slightly fruity, while Havarti Cheese leans toward mild, buttery, slightly acidic cheese known for its irregularly shaped small holes creating a lacy appearance. smooth and firm texture, can be complimented with herbs or jalapeño peppers. variants include creamy versions with up to 65% fat on dry matter basis. manufactured in denmark, united kingdom, canada, and the united states, including artisanal and mass-produced by arla foods and costello.. Aging plays into this as well. Fontina Cheese at typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor) develops a different profile than Havarti Cheese at about 3 months.
Can You Substitute Fontina Cheese for Havarti Cheese?
In most recipes, Fontina Cheese and Havarti Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect semi-soft bite and body where the recipe calls for smooth. Flavor-wise, Fontina Cheese reads as mild, buttery, nutty while Havarti Cheese brings mild, buttery notes.
Which Is Better, Fontina Cheese or Havarti Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semi-soft cheese, go with Fontina Cheese. For a smooth profile, Havarti Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Fontina Cheese suits recipes that want mild, buttery, nutty notes, while Havarti Cheese fits dishes calling for mild, buttery.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fontina Cheese the same as Havarti Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Fontina Cheese originates in Italy, while Havarti Cheese comes from Denmark. Aging also differs: Fontina Cheese is typically aged typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor), Havarti Cheese about 3 months.
Is Fontina Cheese similar to Havarti Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Fontina Cheese for Havarti Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Fontina Cheese taste like Havarti Cheese?
Fontina Cheese reads as mild, buttery, nutty, while Havarti Cheese is mild, buttery. Aromas also diverge. Fontina Cheese leans mild to pungent (earthier in aged versions), and Havarti Cheese is closer to buttery.
What is Fontina Cheese made of?
Fontina Cheese is made from cow milk (raw (for traditional italian fontina), pasteurized (for most american versions)), using traditional (animal) or microbial (varies by producer) rennet. It's typically aged typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor). It originates in Italy.
What is Havarti Cheese made of?
Havarti Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged about 3 months. It originates in Denmark.
Which should I choose, Fontina Cheese or Havarti Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Fontina Cheese is semi-soft, while Havarti Cheese is smooth.