Fromage Frais Cheese vs Queso Manchego

In this article, we'll explore the answers to the most common questions about Fromage Frais Cheese and Queso Manchego, including:

  • "What is the difference between Fromage Frais Cheese and Queso Manchego?"
  • "Is Fromage Frais Cheese and Queso Manchego the same?"
  • "How does Fromage Frais Cheese compare to Queso Manchego cheese?"
  • "How does the taste of Fromage Frais Cheese compare to Queso Manchego?"
  • "Is Fromage Frais Cheese or Queso Manchego better?"

Fromage Frais Cheese Overview

Fromage Frais is a soft, fresh cheese similar to fromage blanc but even creamier and richer. It is made from whole or skimmed milk with cream, giving it a smooth, velvety texture. This cheese is commonly used in France for desserts or simply enjoyed with fruit or honey.

Queso Manchego Overview

Manchego is a PDO-protected cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain, exclusively from the milk of Manchega sheep. It has a firm and compact consistency and a buttery texture, with a distinctive flavor that is well-developed and tangy, often with a slight piquancy in older cheeses. Manchego is aged for a minimum of two months and up to two years, developing a deeper flavor and harder texture with time.

Comparing the Two Cheeses

Country of Origin

Fromage Frais Cheese comes from France. Queso Manchego originated from Spain.

Certification

Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Fromage Frais is not a protected cheese. Queso Manchego has a PDO (1996).

Milk Type and Treatment

Information on the milk type and treatment for Fromage Frais Cheese is not available. Queso Manchego is made with sheep milk that is typically raw or pasteurized.

Composition and Texture

Fromage Frais's texture can be described as "fresh soft". Queso Manchego's texture can be described as "compact".

Taste and Aroma

Fromage Frais Cheese has a milky, smooth taste. Fromage Frais's aroma can be described as "mild". Queso Manchego has a slightly acidic taste.

Appearance and Aging

Fromage Frais Cheese's appearance is colored white . Queso Manchego has a color of white to yellowish ivory , comes in cylindrical with flat faces and has an aging period of fresco (2 weeks), semi-curado (3 weeks to 4 months), curado (3-6 months), viejo or anejo (1 year) .

Rind and Rennet Type

Queso Manchego's rind is described as pleita and flor imprints , with animal rennet.

Ranking

Fromage Frais is ranked #86 out of 996 types based on community views. Queso Manchego is ranked #28 out of 996 types based on community views.

Pairing Comparison

Fromage Frais Queso Manchego
Best Pairings No pairings listed. Albariño, Almonds, Cava, Chorizo, Dried Figs, Dried Fruit, Tequila
Other Good Pairings No additional pairings listed. Apples, Apricot, Asian Pear, Cabernet Sauvignon, Crackers, Dirty Martini, Fig Jam, Grapes, Green Apple, Grüner Veltliner, Hard Cider, Honey, Honeycomb, Madeira, Malbec, Pear, Port, Scotch

For more details, check the full pairing guides on the Fromage Frais and Queso Manchego pages.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Fromage Frais Cheese Queso Manchego
Country of Origin France Spain
Specific Origin Not Specified La Mancha Region
Certification Not Specified PDO (1996)
Milk Type Not Specified Sheep's milk
Milk Treatment Not Specified Raw or pasteurized
Rind Not Specified Pleita and flor imprints
Texture Fresh soft Compact
Taste Milky, smooth Slightly acidic
Aroma Mild Not Specified
Colors White White to yellowish ivory
Forms Not Specified Cylindrical with flat faces
Age Not Specified Fresco (2 weeks), Semi-curado (3 weeks to 4 months), Curado (3-6 months), Viejo or Anejo (1 year)
Rennet Type Not Specified Animal rennet

Which One Should You Choose?

If you prefer a fresh soft cheese, go for Fromage Frais. But if you enjoy a compact consistency, Queso Manchego might be the better pick. Fromage Frais has a milky, smooth taste, making it great for various dishes. Meanwhile, Queso Manchego offers a slightly acidic profile, ideal for different meals.

Compare Fromage Frais Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Queso Manchego to Other Cheeses

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