Gouda Cheese vs Selles-sur-Cher Cheese

Q: Is Gouda Cheese the same as Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

No. Gouda Cheese and Selles-sur-Cher Cheese are distinct cheeses from Netherlands and France respectively. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Gouda Cheese for Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Gouda Cheese for Selles-sur-Cher Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Gouda Cheese or Selles-sur-Cher 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.

Gouda Cheese

Selles-sur-Cher Cheese

Gouda Cheese is a solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged cow-milk cheese from Netherlands, while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese is fine and firm 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 Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

Selles-sur-Cher is a goat milk cheese from Centre-Val de Loire, France, first made in the 19th century in the commune it is named for. It comes as a small charcoal-dusted cylinder of about 150 g, known for its grey-blue mould rind and lightly salty paste.

What's the Difference Between Gouda Cheese and Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

Origin: Gouda Cheese (Netherlands), Selles-sur-Cher Cheese (France)
Milk type: Gouda Cheese (cow's milk), Selles-sur-Cher Cheese (Whole goat’s milk)
Milk treatment: Gouda Cheese (pasteurized or unpasteurized), Selles-sur-Cher Cheese (unpasteurized)
Texture: Gouda Cheese (solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged), Selles-sur-Cher Cheese (Fine and firm)
Rind: Gouda Cheese (Durable), Selles-sur-Cher Cheese (Ash-coated, light to dark ash)
Aging: Gouda Cheese (4 weeks to 21 months), Selles-sur-Cher Cheese (Ten days minimum)
Taste: Gouda Cheese (Sweet to nutty), Selles-sur-Cher Cheese (Fresh, hazelnut)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Gouda Cheese	Selles-sur-Cher Cheese
Country of Origin	Netherlands	France
Specific Origin	Southern Holland	Sologne, North-Central France
Milk Type	Cow's milk	Whole goat’s milk
Milk Treatment	Pasteurized or unpasteurized	Unpasteurized
Texture	Solid and springy; smooth when young, firm and crumbly when aged	Fine and firm
Rind	Durable	Ash-coated, light to dark ash
Aging	4 weeks to 21 months	Ten days minimum
Taste	Sweet to nutty	Fresh, hazelnut

Taste Comparison: Does Gouda Cheese Taste Like Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

Gouda Cheese reads as sweet to nutty, while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese brings fresh, hazelnut character. On the nose, Gouda Cheese offers sour aromatics with a cooked, milky note, contrasted with Selles-sur-Cher Cheese's fresh goat, mushroom hints. More specifically, Gouda Cheese shows young: mellow, fruity, sweet. aged: nutty, herbaceous, notes of chocolate, brazil nut, butterscotch., while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese leans toward chalky-white, homogenous, highlighted by rind. Aging plays into this as well. Gouda Cheese at 4 weeks to 21 months develops a different profile than Selles-sur-Cher Cheese at ten days minimum.

Can You Substitute Gouda Cheese for Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

Gouda Cheese can stand in for Selles-sur-Cher 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 fine and firm. Flavor-wise, Gouda Cheese reads as sweet to nutty while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese brings fresh, hazelnut notes.

Which Is Better, Gouda Cheese or Selles-sur-Cher 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 fine and firm profile, Selles-sur-Cher Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Gouda Cheese suits recipes that want sweet to nutty notes, while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese fits dishes calling for fresh, hazelnut.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gouda Cheese the same as Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Gouda Cheese originates in Netherlands, while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese comes from France. Gouda Cheese is made from cow milk; Selles-sur-Cher Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Gouda Cheese is typically aged 4 weeks to 21 months, Selles-sur-Cher Cheese ten days minimum.

Is Gouda Cheese similar to Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Gouda Cheese for Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

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

Does Gouda Cheese taste like Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

Gouda Cheese reads as sweet to nutty, while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese is fresh, hazelnut. Aromas also diverge. Gouda Cheese leans sour aromatics with a cooked, milky note, and Selles-sur-Cher Cheese is closer to fresh goat, mushroom hints.

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 Selles-sur-Cher Cheese made of?

Selles-sur-Cher Cheese is made from goat milk (unpasteurized), using small amount rennet. It's typically aged ten days minimum. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Gouda Cheese or Selles-sur-Cher 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 Selles-sur-Cher Cheese is fine and firm.