Gorgonzola Cheese vs L'Etivaz Cheese
Gorgonzola Cheese is a soft to crumbly cow-milk cheese from Italy, while L'Etivaz Cheese is hard and made from cow milk, originating in Switzerland.
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 L'Etivaz Cheese?
L'Etivaz is a hard raw cow's milk cheese from the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, made only during the summer Alpine grazing season in copper cauldrons over wood fires. It tastes close to Gruyère surchoix, fruity and slightly nutty.
What's the Difference Between Gorgonzola Cheese and L'Etivaz Cheese?
- Origin: Gorgonzola Cheese (Italy), L'Etivaz Cheese (Switzerland)
- Milk treatment: Gorgonzola Cheese (pasteurized), L'Etivaz Cheese (unpasteurized)
- Texture: Gorgonzola Cheese (Soft to crumbly), L'Etivaz Cheese (hard)
- Aging: Gorgonzola Cheese (2 to 3 months), L'Etivaz Cheese (5 to 13 months)
- Taste: Gorgonzola Cheese (Sweet to savory), L'Etivaz Cheese (fruity, slightly nutty)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Gorgonzola Cheese | L'Etivaz Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | Switzerland |
| Specific Origin | Lombardy, Piedmont | Vaud, Switzerland |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized | Unpasteurized |
| Texture | Soft to crumbly | Hard |
| Rind | None | — |
| Aging | 2 to 3 months | 5 to 13 months |
| Taste | Sweet to savory | Fruity, slightly nutty |
Taste Comparison: Does Gorgonzola Cheese Taste Like L'Etivaz Cheese?
Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory, while L'Etivaz Cheese brings fruity, slightly nutty character. On the nose, Gorgonzola Cheese offers nutty, contrasted with L'Etivaz Cheese's smokey. More specifically, Gorgonzola Cheese shows dolce: creamy, slightly spicy, delicate. piccante: blue-veined, crumbly, strong, with widespread bluish-green marbling, while L'Etivaz Cheese leans toward creamier and less sharp than antique gruyère, smooth, salty, varying with the pasture soil. Aging plays into this as well. Gorgonzola Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than L'Etivaz Cheese at 5 to 13 months.
Can You Substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for L'Etivaz Cheese?
In most recipes, Gorgonzola Cheese and L'Etivaz Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect soft to crumbly bite and body where the recipe calls for hard. Flavor-wise, Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory while L'Etivaz Cheese brings fruity, slightly nutty notes.
Which Is Better, Gorgonzola Cheese or L'Etivaz 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, L'Etivaz Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Gorgonzola Cheese suits recipes that want sweet to savory notes, while L'Etivaz Cheese fits dishes calling for fruity, slightly nutty.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gorgonzola Cheese the same as L'Etivaz Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Gorgonzola Cheese originates in Italy, while L'Etivaz Cheese comes from Switzerland. Aging also differs: Gorgonzola Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, L'Etivaz Cheese 5 to 13 months.
Is Gorgonzola Cheese similar to L'Etivaz Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for L'Etivaz Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Gorgonzola Cheese taste like L'Etivaz Cheese?
Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory, while L'Etivaz Cheese is fruity, slightly nutty. Aromas also diverge. Gorgonzola Cheese leans nutty, and L'Etivaz Cheese is closer to smokey.
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 L'Etivaz Cheese made of?
L'Etivaz Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized). It's typically aged 5 to 13 months. It originates in Switzerland.
Which should I choose, Gorgonzola Cheese or L'Etivaz Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Gorgonzola Cheese is soft to crumbly, while L'Etivaz Cheese is hard.