Gouda Cheese vs Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese
Gouda Cheese
Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese
Gouda Cheese is a solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged cow-milk cheese from Netherlands, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is semi-soft and made from goat milk, originating in France.
What Is Gouda Cheese?
Gouda is a yellow cow's milk cheese from the Netherlands, named after the city of Gouda in South Holland. It runs from young and elastic to old and hard, picking up a caramel sweetness and small crunchy crystals with age.
What Is Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Sainte-Maure de Touraine is an unpasteurized goat cheese from the Touraine province of France, sold as a small ash-rolled log with a straw running through its centre. The straw carries the AOC seal and a number identifying the producer.
What's the Difference Between Gouda Cheese and Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
- Origin: Gouda Cheese (Netherlands), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (France)
- Milk type: Gouda Cheese (cow's milk), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (goat’s milk)
- Milk treatment: Gouda Cheese (pasteurized or unpasteurized), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Raw)
- Texture: Gouda Cheese (solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (semi-soft)
- Rind: Gouda Cheese (Durable), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Gray-blue)
- Aging: Gouda Cheese (4 weeks to 21 months), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Minimum of ten days)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Gouda Cheese | Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Netherlands | France |
| Specific Origin | Southern Holland | Indre-Et-Loire And Bordering Cantons |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Goat’s milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or unpasteurized | Raw |
| Texture | Solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged | Semi-soft |
| Rind | Durable | Gray-blue |
| Aging | 4 weeks to 21 months | Minimum of ten days |
| Taste | Sweet to nutty | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Gouda Cheese Taste Like Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Gouda Cheese at 4 weeks to 21 months develops a different profile than Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese at minimum of ten days.
Can You Substitute Gouda Cheese for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Gouda Cheese can stand in for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-soft.
Which Is Better, Gouda Cheese or Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged cheese, go with Gouda Cheese. For a semi-soft profile, Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gouda Cheese the same as Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Gouda Cheese originates in Netherlands, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese comes from France. Gouda Cheese is made from cow milk; Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Gouda Cheese is typically aged 4 weeks to 21 months, Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese minimum of ten days.
Is Gouda Cheese similar to Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Gouda Cheese for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Gouda Cheese taste like Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Gouda Cheese made of?
Gouda Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized or unpasteurized). It's typically aged 4 weeks to 21 months. It originates in Netherlands.
What is Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese made of?
Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is made from goat milk (raw). It's typically aged minimum of ten days. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Gouda Cheese or Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Gouda Cheese is solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is semi-soft.