Livarot Cheese vs Roquefort Cheese
Livarot Cheese
Roquefort Cheese
Livarot Cheese is a chewy, melts in the mouth cow-milk cheese from France, while Roquefort Cheese is moist, very creamy and made from sheep milk, originating in France.
What Is Livarot Cheese?
Livarot is a strong-smelling, washed-rind cheese from Normandy. It is nicknamed "The Colonel" because of the five strips of raffia that encircle the cheese, similar to the stripes on a French army colonel's uniform. This cheese has a spicy, pungent taste with a soft, creamy texture and a reddish-orange rind.
What Is Roquefort Cheese?
Roquefort is a famous blue cheese from the south of France, made from sheep's milk. It is known for its strong, tangy flavor and moist, crumbly texture. The cheese is ripened in the natural Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, where it develops its characteristic blue veins from the mold Penicillium roqueforti.
What's the Difference Between Livarot Cheese and Roquefort Cheese?
- Milk type: Livarot Cheese (cow's milk), Roquefort Cheese (sheep's milk)
- Texture: Livarot Cheese (Chewy, Melts in the mouth), Roquefort Cheese (Moist, very creamy)
- Aging: Livarot Cheese (21 days), Roquefort Cheese (Minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months)
- Taste: Livarot Cheese (Pungent), Roquefort Cheese (Mild to strong)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Livarot Cheese | Roquefort Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | France |
| Specific Origin | Normandy, Pays D’Auge | Roquefort-Sur-Soulzon, South Of France |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Unpasteurized | Unpasteurized |
| Texture | Chewy, Melts in the mouth | Moist, very creamy |
| Rind | Sticky, Orangey | — |
| Aging | 21 days | Minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months |
| Taste | Pungent | Mild to strong |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese — wines, foods, breads, and more.
| Livarot Cheese | Roquefort Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | — | Bordeaux |
| Other Good Pairings | — | Barleywine, Beaujolais, Madeira, Port |
Which would you pick?
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Where to buy Livarot Cheese and Roquefort Cheese
Livarot Cheese
Roquefort Cheese
Taste Comparison: Does Livarot Cheese Taste Like Roquefort Cheese?
Livarot Cheese reads as pungent, while Roquefort Cheese brings mild to strong character. On the nose, Livarot Cheese offers pungent animalian, contrasted with Roquefort Cheese's sweet. More specifically, Livarot Cheese shows onion, hay, smoke, with a pungent animalian aroma, while Roquefort Cheese leans toward buttercream smooth to salty and sharp. Aging plays into this as well. Livarot Cheese at 21 days develops a different profile than Roquefort Cheese at minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months.
Can You Substitute Livarot Cheese for Roquefort Cheese?
Livarot Cheese can stand in for Roquefort Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect chewy, melts in the mouth bite and body where the recipe calls for moist, very creamy. Flavor-wise, Livarot Cheese reads as pungent while Roquefort Cheese brings mild to strong notes.
Which Is Better, Livarot Cheese or Roquefort Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a chewy, melts in the mouth cheese, go with Livarot Cheese. For a moist, very creamy profile, Roquefort Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Livarot Cheese suits recipes that want pungent notes, while Roquefort Cheese fits dishes calling for mild to strong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Livarot Cheese the same as Roquefort Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Livarot Cheese is made from cow milk; Roquefort Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Livarot Cheese is typically aged 21 days, Roquefort Cheese minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months.
Is Livarot Cheese similar to Roquefort Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Livarot Cheese for Roquefort Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Livarot Cheese taste like Roquefort Cheese?
Livarot Cheese reads as pungent, while Roquefort Cheese is mild to strong. Aromas also diverge. Livarot Cheese leans pungent animalian, and Roquefort Cheese is closer to sweet.
What is Livarot Cheese made of?
Livarot Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 21 days. It originates in France.
What is Roquefort Cheese made of?
Roquefort Cheese is made from sheep milk (unpasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Livarot Cheese or Roquefort Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Livarot Cheese is chewy, melts in the mouth, while Roquefort Cheese is moist, very creamy.
See full profiles: Livarot Cheese and Roquefort Cheese.