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.