Gorgonzola Cheese vs Livno Cheese

Q: Is Gorgonzola Cheese the same as Livno Cheese?

No. Gorgonzola Cheese and Livno Cheese are distinct cheeses from Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina respectively. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Livno Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Gorgonzola Cheese for Livno Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Gorgonzola Cheese or Livno Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture and flavor rows in the table above are the best guide. Pick the one whose profile fits your recipe or board.

Gorgonzola Cheese is a soft to crumbly cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Livno Cheese is solid and made from cow and sheep milk, originating in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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 Livno Cheese?

Livno is a cheese from the Livno area of Bosnia and Herzegovina, first made in the 19th century using the French method for Gruyère. It is made mostly from a mix of sheep's and cow's milk, with a robust flavor that turns tangy with longer aging.

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

Origin: Gorgonzola Cheese (Italy), Livno Cheese (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Milk type: Gorgonzola Cheese (cow's milk), Livno Cheese (Sheep’s and cow’s milk)
Milk treatment: Gorgonzola Cheese (pasteurized), Livno Cheese (Heated)
Texture: Gorgonzola Cheese (Soft to crumbly), Livno Cheese (Solid)
Aging: Gorgonzola Cheese (2 to 3 months), Livno Cheese (6 to 12 weeks (54–59°F [12–15°C] and humidity of 70–85%))
Taste: Gorgonzola Cheese (Sweet to savory), Livno Cheese (Mildly milky sour, moderately salty and piquant)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Gorgonzola Cheese	Livno Cheese
Country of Origin	Italy	Bosnia And Herzegovina
Specific Origin	Lombardy, Piedmont	Livno Area
Milk Type	Cow's milk	Sheep’s and cow’s milk
Milk Treatment	Pasteurized	Heated
Texture	Soft to crumbly	Solid
Rind	None	—
Aging	2 to 3 months	6 to 12 weeks (54–59°F [12–15°C] and humidity of 70–85%)
Taste	Sweet to savory	Mildly milky sour, moderately salty and piquant

Taste Comparison: Does Gorgonzola Cheese Taste Like Livno Cheese?

Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory, while Livno Cheese brings mildly milky sour, moderately salty and piquant character. On the nose, Gorgonzola Cheese offers nutty, contrasted with Livno Cheese's pleasant and characteristic. More specifically, Gorgonzola Cheese shows dolce: creamy, slightly spicy, delicate. piccante: blue-veined, crumbly, strong, with widespread bluish-green marbling, while Livno Cheese leans toward characteristic for sheep’s milk cheeses. Aging plays into this as well. Gorgonzola Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Livno Cheese at 6 to 12 weeks (54–59°f [12–15°c] and humidity of 70–85%).

Can You Substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Livno Cheese?

Gorgonzola Cheese can stand in for Livno 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 solid. Flavor-wise, Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory while Livno Cheese brings mildly milky sour, moderately salty and piquant notes.

Which Is Better, Gorgonzola Cheese or Livno 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 solid profile, Livno Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Gorgonzola Cheese suits recipes that want sweet to savory notes, while Livno Cheese fits dishes calling for mildly milky sour, moderately salty and piquant.

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gorgonzola Cheese the same as Livno Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Gorgonzola Cheese originates in Italy, while Livno Cheese comes from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Gorgonzola Cheese is made from cow milk; Livno Cheese uses cow and sheep. Aging also differs: Gorgonzola Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Livno Cheese 6 to 12 weeks (54–59°f [12–15°c] and humidity of 70–85%).

Is Gorgonzola Cheese similar to Livno Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Livno Cheese?

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

Does Gorgonzola Cheese taste like Livno Cheese?

Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory, while Livno Cheese is mildly milky sour, moderately salty and piquant. Aromas also diverge. Gorgonzola Cheese leans nutty, and Livno Cheese is closer to pleasant and characteristic.

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 Livno Cheese made of?

Livno Cheese is made from cow and sheep milk (heated), using natural calf rennet powd rennet. It's typically aged 6 to 12 weeks (54–59°f [12–15°c] and humidity of 70–85%). It originates in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Which should I choose, Gorgonzola Cheese or Livno Cheese?

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