Kasseri Cheese vs West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese

Q: Is Kasseri Cheese the same as West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?

No. Kasseri Cheese and West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese are distinct cheeses. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Kasseri Cheese for West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Kasseri Cheese for West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Kasseri Cheese or West Country Farmhouse Cheddar 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.

Kasseri Cheese is a firm to hard goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is firm and made from cow milk.

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 West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?

West Country Farmhouse Cheddar is a firm cow's milk cheese made by traditional methods in Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Cornwall. Its name has been protected in the EU and UK since 2007, and only milk from those four counties may be used.

What's the Difference Between Kasseri Cheese and West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?

Milk type: Kasseri Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (Cow)
Milk treatment: Kasseri Cheese (Traditionally raw, increasingly pasteurized), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (raw)
Texture: Kasseri Cheese (Firm to hard), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (Firm)
Rind: Kasseri Cheese (Develops as ages), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (cloth-wrapped)
Aging: Kasseri Cheese (at least 3 months), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (Minimum 9 months)
Taste: Kasseri Cheese (Rich), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese (Nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Kasseri Cheese	West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese
Country of Origin	Greece	—
Specific Origin	Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, Lesbos	Dorset, Somerset, Devon And Cornwall
Milk Type	Goat's and sheep's milk	Cow
Milk Treatment	Traditionally raw, increasingly pasteurized	Raw
Texture	Firm to hard	Firm
Rind	Develops as ages	Cloth-wrapped
Aging	At least 3 months	Minimum 9 months
Taste	Rich	Nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness

Taste Comparison: Does Kasseri Cheese Taste Like West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?

Kasseri Cheese reads as rich, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese brings nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness 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 West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese leans toward sharp and pungent, often slightly earthy, with a hazelnut note and large calcium lactate crystals when well matured. Aging plays into this as well. Kasseri Cheese at at least 3 months develops a different profile than West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese at minimum 9 months.

Can You Substitute Kasseri Cheese for West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?

Kasseri Cheese can stand in for West Country Farmhouse Cheddar 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 firm. Flavor-wise, Kasseri Cheese reads as rich while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese brings nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness notes.

Which Is Better, Kasseri Cheese or West Country Farmhouse Cheddar 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 firm profile, West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Kasseri Cheese suits recipes that want rich notes, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese fits dishes calling for nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness.

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kasseri Cheese the same as West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Kasseri Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Kasseri Cheese is typically aged at least 3 months, West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese minimum 9 months.

Is Kasseri Cheese similar to West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Kasseri Cheese for West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?

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

Does Kasseri Cheese taste like West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?

Kasseri Cheese reads as rich, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is nutty, full-rounded with a hint of sharpness.

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 West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese made of?

West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged minimum 9 months.

Which should I choose, Kasseri Cheese or West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Kasseri Cheese is firm to hard, while West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese is firm.