Gorgonzola Cheese vs Graviera Cheese

Gorgonzola Cheese is a soft to crumbly cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Graviera Cheese is hard and made from cow or sheep milk, originating in Greece.

What Is Gorgonzola Cheese?

Gorgonzola is an Italian blue cheese made from unskimmed cow's milk, named for a town near Milan. It comes in two styles: dolce, mild and buttery, and piccante, sharper with a firm, crumbly body.

What Is Graviera Cheese?

Graviera is a hard Greek cheese made in wheels from sheep's or cow's milk, named after the gruyere it resembles. It tastes slightly sweet, sometimes with a burnt caramel note, and ranks second only to feta in Greece.

What's the Difference Between Gorgonzola Cheese and Graviera Cheese?

• Origin: Gorgonzola Cheese (Italy), Graviera Cheese (Greece)
• Milk type: Gorgonzola Cheese (cow's milk), Graviera Cheese (cow's or sheep's milk)
• Milk treatment: Gorgonzola Cheese (pasteurized), Graviera Cheese (unpasteurized)
• Texture: Gorgonzola Cheese (Soft to crumbly), Graviera Cheese (hard)
• Rind: Gorgonzola Cheese (None), Graviera Cheese (marked with a crisscross pattern from the draining cloth)
• Aging: Gorgonzola Cheese (2 to 3 months), Graviera Cheese (at least 5 months for Crete graviera)
• Taste: Gorgonzola Cheese (Sweet to savory), Graviera Cheese (nutty, sweet)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Gorgonzola Cheese Taste Like Graviera Cheese?

Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory, while Graviera Cheese brings nutty, sweet character. More specifically, Gorgonzola Cheese shows dolce: creamy, slightly spicy, delicate. piccante: blue-veined, crumbly, strong, with widespread bluish-green marbling, while Graviera Cheese leans toward slightly sweet, burnt caramel in the crete version. Aging plays into this as well. Gorgonzola Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Graviera Cheese at at least 5 months for crete graviera.

Can You Substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Graviera Cheese?

Gorgonzola Cheese can stand in for Graviera Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft to crumbly bite and body where the recipe calls for hard. Flavor-wise, Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory while Graviera Cheese brings nutty, sweet notes.

Which Is Better, Gorgonzola Cheese or Graviera Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft to crumbly cheese, go with Gorgonzola Cheese. For a hard profile, Graviera Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Gorgonzola Cheese suits recipes that want sweet to savory notes, while Graviera Cheese fits dishes calling for nutty, sweet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gorgonzola Cheese the same as Graviera Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Gorgonzola Cheese originates in Italy, while Graviera Cheese comes from Greece. Gorgonzola Cheese is made from cow milk; Graviera Cheese uses cow or sheep. Aging also differs: Gorgonzola Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Graviera Cheese at least 5 months for crete graviera.

Is Gorgonzola Cheese similar to Graviera Cheese?

Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.

Can I substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Graviera Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.

Does Gorgonzola Cheese taste like Graviera Cheese?

Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory, while Graviera Cheese is nutty, sweet.

What is Gorgonzola Cheese made of?

Gorgonzola Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 2 to 3 months. It originates in Italy.

What is Graviera Cheese made of?

Graviera Cheese is made from cow or sheep milk (unpasteurized). It's typically aged at least 5 months for crete graviera. It originates in Greece.

Which should I choose, Gorgonzola Cheese or Graviera Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Gorgonzola Cheese is soft to crumbly, while Graviera Cheese is hard.