Kasseri Cheese vs Tomme de Savoie Cheese
Kasseri Cheese is a firm to hard goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Tomme de Savoie Cheese is semi-soft, artisan and made from cow milk, originating in France.
What Is Kasseri Cheese?
Kasseri is a pale yellow, medium-hard to hard Greek cheese made from sheep milk with at most 20% goat's milk. It belongs to the pasta filata family and is best known as the cheese in saganaki and kasseropita.
What Is Tomme de Savoie Cheese?
Tomme de Savoie is a mild, semi-firm cow's milk cheese from Savoy in the French Alps. It is made from the skimmed milk left over from butter making, so the fat content stays low, and it carries a thick brownish-grey rind over a beige interior.
What's the Difference Between Kasseri Cheese and Tomme de Savoie Cheese?
- Origin: Kasseri Cheese (Greece), Tomme de Savoie Cheese (France)
- Milk type: Kasseri Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Tomme de Savoie Cheese (cow's milk)
- Milk treatment: Kasseri Cheese (Traditionally raw, increasingly pasteurized), Tomme de Savoie Cheese (skimmed or unpasteurized)
- Texture: Kasseri Cheese (Firm to hard), Tomme de Savoie Cheese (semi-soft, artisan)
- Rind: Kasseri Cheese (Develops as ages), Tomme de Savoie Cheese (natural)
- Aging: Kasseri Cheese (at least 3 months), Tomme de Savoie Cheese (several months)
- Taste: Kasseri Cheese (Rich), Tomme de Savoie Cheese (grassy, nutty, tangy)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Kasseri Cheese | Tomme de Savoie Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | France |
| Specific Origin | Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, Lesbos | Savoy, French Alps, France |
| Milk Type | Goat's and sheep's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Traditionally raw, increasingly pasteurized | Skimmed or unpasteurized |
| Texture | Firm to hard | Semi-soft, artisan |
| Rind | Develops as ages | Natural |
| Aging | At least 3 months | Several months |
| Taste | Rich | Grassy, nutty, tangy |
Taste Comparison: Does Kasseri Cheese Taste Like Tomme de Savoie Cheese?
Kasseri Cheese reads as rich, while Tomme de Savoie Cheese brings grassy, nutty, tangy character. More specifically, Kasseri Cheese shows rich, complex flavors, buttery texture, flowery aroma when aged. similar to asiago and parmigiano reggiano when aged 10+ months., while Tomme de Savoie Cheese leans toward mild. Aging plays into this as well. Kasseri Cheese at at least 3 months develops a different profile than Tomme de Savoie Cheese at several months.
Can You Substitute Kasseri Cheese for Tomme de Savoie Cheese?
Kasseri Cheese can stand in for Tomme de Savoie Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect firm to hard bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-soft, artisan. Flavor-wise, Kasseri Cheese reads as rich while Tomme de Savoie Cheese brings grassy, nutty, tangy notes.
Which Is Better, Kasseri Cheese or Tomme de Savoie Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a firm to hard cheese, go with Kasseri Cheese. For a semi-soft, artisan profile, Tomme de Savoie Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Kasseri Cheese suits recipes that want rich notes, while Tomme de Savoie Cheese fits dishes calling for grassy, nutty, tangy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kasseri Cheese the same as Tomme de Savoie Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Kasseri Cheese originates in Greece, while Tomme de Savoie Cheese comes from France. Kasseri Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Tomme de Savoie Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Kasseri Cheese is typically aged at least 3 months, Tomme de Savoie Cheese several months.
Is Kasseri Cheese similar to Tomme de Savoie Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Kasseri Cheese for Tomme de Savoie Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Kasseri Cheese taste like Tomme de Savoie Cheese?
Kasseri Cheese reads as rich, while Tomme de Savoie Cheese is grassy, nutty, tangy.
What is Kasseri Cheese made of?
Kasseri Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk (traditionally raw, increasingly pasteurized), using natural rennet. It's typically aged at least 3 months. It originates in Greece.
What is Tomme de Savoie Cheese made of?
Tomme de Savoie Cheese is made from cow milk (skimmed or unpasteurized). It's typically aged several months. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Kasseri Cheese or Tomme de Savoie Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Kasseri Cheese is firm to hard, while Tomme de Savoie Cheese is semi-soft, artisan.