Graviera Cheese vs Mont d'Or Cheese

Graviera Cheese is a hard cow or sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft and made from cow milk, originating in France.

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 Is Mont d'Or Cheese?

Mont d'Or is a seasonal soft cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of France and Switzerland, wrapped in a band of spruce that gives it its flavor. It sells from September 10 to May 10 and is usually warmed in its spruce box and eaten like fondue.

What's the Difference Between Graviera Cheese and Mont d'Or Cheese?

• Origin: Graviera Cheese (Greece), Mont d'Or Cheese (France)
• Milk type: Graviera Cheese (cow's or sheep's milk), Mont d'Or Cheese (Cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Graviera Cheese (unpasteurized), Mont d'Or Cheese (Raw)
• Texture: Graviera Cheese (hard), Mont d'Or Cheese (Soft)
• Rind: Graviera Cheese (marked with a crisscross pattern from the draining cloth), Mont d'Or Cheese (Washed rind)
• Aging: Graviera Cheese (at least 5 months for Crete graviera), Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days)
• Taste: Graviera Cheese (nutty, sweet), Mont d'Or Cheese (Resinous, mild to pungent)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Graviera Cheese Taste Like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Graviera Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent character. More specifically, Graviera Cheese shows slightly sweet, burnt caramel in the crete version, while Mont d'Or Cheese leans toward known for its creamy taste and powerful aroma; gets resinous flavor from spruce bark. Aging plays into this as well. Graviera Cheese at at least 5 months for crete graviera develops a different profile than Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days.

Can You Substitute Graviera Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

Graviera Cheese can stand in for Mont d'Or Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect hard bite and body where the recipe calls for soft. Flavor-wise, Graviera Cheese reads as nutty, sweet while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent notes.

Which Is Better, Graviera Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Graviera Cheese the same as Mont d'Or Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Graviera Cheese originates in Greece, while Mont d'Or Cheese comes from France. Graviera Cheese is made from cow or sheep milk; Mont d'Or Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Graviera Cheese is typically aged at least 5 months for crete graviera, Mont d'Or Cheese 21 to 60 days.

Is Graviera Cheese similar to Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Graviera Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Does Graviera Cheese taste like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Graviera Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Mont d'Or Cheese is resinous, mild to pungent.

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.

What is Mont d'Or Cheese made of?

Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 21 to 60 days. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Graviera Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Graviera Cheese is hard, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft.