Limburger Cheese vs Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese
Limburger Cheese
Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese
Limburger Cheese is a firm to spreadable cow-milk cheese from Belgium, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is semi-soft and made from goat milk, originating in France.
What Is Limburger Cheese?
Limburger is a washed-rind cow's milk cheese from the Herve area of the old Duchy of Limburg, now part of Belgium. It is known for the powerful smell it develops after about three months of ripening.
What Is Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Sainte-Maure de Touraine is an unpasteurized goat cheese from the Touraine province of France, sold as a small ash-rolled log with a straw running through its centre. The straw carries the AOC seal and a number identifying the producer.
What's the Difference Between Limburger Cheese and Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
- Origin: Limburger Cheese (Belgium), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (France)
- Milk type: Limburger Cheese (Cow’s milk), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (goat’s milk)
- Texture: Limburger Cheese (Firm to spreadable), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (semi-soft)
- Rind: Limburger Cheese (Sticky, orange-brown), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Gray-blue)
- Aging: Limburger Cheese (3 months), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Minimum of ten days)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Limburger Cheese | Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Belgium | France |
| Specific Origin | Limburg, Allgäu | Indre-Et-Loire And Bordering Cantons |
| Milk Type | Cow’s milk | Goat’s milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Raw |
| Texture | Firm to spreadable | Semi-soft |
| Rind | Sticky, orange-brown | Gray-blue |
| Aging | 3 months | Minimum of ten days |
| Taste | Meaty, farmyard | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Limburger Cheese Taste Like Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Limburger Cheese at 3 months develops a different profile than Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese at minimum of ten days.
Can You Substitute Limburger Cheese for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Limburger Cheese can stand in for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect firm to spreadable bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-soft.
Which Is Better, Limburger Cheese or Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a firm to spreadable cheese, go with Limburger Cheese. For a semi-soft profile, Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Limburger Cheese the same as Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Limburger Cheese originates in Belgium, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese comes from France. Limburger Cheese is made from cow milk; Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Limburger Cheese is typically aged 3 months, Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese minimum of ten days.
Is Limburger Cheese similar to Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Limburger Cheese for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Limburger Cheese taste like Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Limburger Cheese made of?
Limburger Cheese is made from cow milk (raw). It's typically aged 3 months. It originates in Belgium.
What is Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese made of?
Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is made from goat milk (raw). It's typically aged minimum of ten days. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Limburger Cheese or Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Limburger Cheese is firm to spreadable, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is semi-soft.