Jarlsberg Cheese vs Kanternagelkaas Cheese
Jarlsberg Cheese is a semihard cow-milk cheese from Norway, while Kanternagelkaas Cheese is firm to hard and made from cow milk.
What Is Jarlsberg Cheese?
Jarlsberg is a mild Swiss-type cheese from Norway, made from cow's milk and named after Jarlsberg Manor. It is known for its buttery, slightly sweet and nutty flavor and its medium to large holes.
What Is Kanternagelkaas Cheese?
Kanternagelkaas is a variant of Kanterkaas that includes cloves for additional flavor. It shares the same shape and texture as Kanterkaas, with a firm to hard consistency. The cheese has a fragrant, spiced, and sharp to strong taste, which intensifies with aging. Its color is uniform yellow-green, sometimes darker around the cloves, which are evenly distributed throughout. The rind is smooth, impervious, and may be natural or coated in colorless or yellow material. The cheese is made using pasteurized milk, with the cloves and salt added during production. It is ripened for at least four weeks.
What's the Difference Between Jarlsberg Cheese and Kanternagelkaas Cheese?
- Texture: Jarlsberg Cheese (Semihard), Kanternagelkaas Cheese (Firm to hard)
- Rind: Jarlsberg Cheese (Plastic-covered), Kanternagelkaas Cheese (Natural or coated (colorless/yellow))
- Aging: Jarlsberg Cheese (Three months to twelve months), Kanternagelkaas Cheese (Minimum 4 weeks)
- Taste: Jarlsberg Cheese (Mild, sweet, nutty), Kanternagelkaas Cheese (Fragrant, spiced, sharp to strong (varies with age))
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Jarlsberg Cheese | Kanternagelkaas Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Norway | — |
| Specific Origin | Jarlsberg, Vestfold, Norway | Friesland And Westerkwartier |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized | Pasteurized |
| Texture | Semihard | Firm to hard |
| Rind | Plastic-covered | Natural or coated (colorless/yellow) |
| Aging | Three months to twelve months | Minimum 4 weeks |
| Taste | Mild, sweet, nutty | Fragrant, spiced, sharp to strong (varies with age) |
Taste Comparison: Does Jarlsberg Cheese Taste Like Kanternagelkaas Cheese?
Jarlsberg Cheese reads as mild, sweet, nutty, while Kanternagelkaas Cheese brings fragrant, spiced, sharp to strong (varies with age) character. More specifically, Jarlsberg Cheese shows known for its mild, sweet, and nutty flavor and large eyes., while Kanternagelkaas Cheese leans toward clove-flavored. Aging plays into this as well. Jarlsberg Cheese at three months to twelve months develops a different profile than Kanternagelkaas Cheese at minimum 4 weeks.
Can You Substitute Jarlsberg Cheese for Kanternagelkaas Cheese?
In most recipes, Jarlsberg Cheese and Kanternagelkaas Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect semihard bite and body where the recipe calls for firm to hard. Flavor-wise, Jarlsberg Cheese reads as mild, sweet, nutty while Kanternagelkaas Cheese brings fragrant, spiced, sharp to strong (varies with age) notes.
Which Is Better, Jarlsberg Cheese or Kanternagelkaas Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semihard cheese, go with Jarlsberg Cheese. For a firm to hard profile, Kanternagelkaas Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Jarlsberg Cheese suits recipes that want mild, sweet, nutty notes, while Kanternagelkaas Cheese fits dishes calling for fragrant, spiced, sharp to strong (varies with age).
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jarlsberg Cheese the same as Kanternagelkaas Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Jarlsberg Cheese is typically aged three months to twelve months, Kanternagelkaas Cheese minimum 4 weeks.
Is Jarlsberg Cheese similar to Kanternagelkaas Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Jarlsberg Cheese for Kanternagelkaas Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Jarlsberg Cheese taste like Kanternagelkaas Cheese?
Jarlsberg Cheese reads as mild, sweet, nutty, while Kanternagelkaas Cheese is fragrant, spiced, sharp to strong (varies with age).
What is Jarlsberg Cheese made of?
Jarlsberg Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged three months to twelve months. It originates in Norway.
What is Kanternagelkaas Cheese made of?
Kanternagelkaas Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged minimum 4 weeks.
Which should I choose, Jarlsberg Cheese or Kanternagelkaas Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Jarlsberg Cheese is semihard, while Kanternagelkaas Cheese is firm to hard.