Mahón-Menorca Cheese vs Toma Cheese

In this article, we'll explore the answers to the most common questions about Mahón-Menorca Cheese and Toma Cheese, including:

• "What is the difference between Mahón-Menorca Cheese and Toma Cheese?"
• "Is Mahón-Menorca Cheese and Toma Cheese the same?"
• "How does Mahón-Menorca Cheese compare to Toma Cheese cheese?"
• "How does the taste of Mahón-Menorca Cheese compare to Toma Cheese?"
• "Is Mahón-Menorca Cheese or Toma Cheese better?"

Mahón-Menorca Cheese Overview

Mahón-Menorca is a cow's milk cheese from the island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands. It has a square shape with rounded edges and is known for its orange rind and soft to hard texture depending on age. The flavor is slightly salty and tangy, with buttery notes in younger cheeses and a sharper taste in older ones.

Toma Cheese Overview

Toma is a generic term used across the Piedmont and Aosta Valley regions of Italy to describe a family of farmhouse cheeses made from cow's milk. These cheeses can vary but typically have a soft to semi-hard texture and a mild, buttery flavor, making them versatile for both table cheese and melting in dishes.

Comparing the Two Cheeses

Country of Origin

Mahón-Menorca Cheese comes from Spain. Toma Cheese originated from Italy.

Certification

Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a PDO (1996), PDO (1985). Toma is not a protected cheese.

Milk Type and Treatment

Mahón-Menorca Cheese is made with cow or sheep milk that is typically raw. Toma Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically pasteurized.

Composition and Texture

Mahón-Menorca's texture can be described as "firm". Toma's texture can be described as "semi-hard".

Taste and Aroma

Mahón-Menorca Cheese has a salty and spicy taste. Mahón-Menorca's aroma can be described as "lactic, buttery".

Appearance and Aging

Mahón-Menorca Cheese's appearance is colored ivory-yellow to orangey or brownish gray , is available in parallelepiped shape and is aged tender: 21-60 days, semi-cured: 2-5 months, vintage: >5 months .

Rind and Rennet Type

Mahón-Menorca Cheese's rind is described as characteristic orangish and uses vegetable (cynara cardunculus) rennet.

Ranking

Mahón-Menorca is ranked #222 out of 996 types based on community views. Toma is ranked #116 out of 996 types based on community views.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Which One Should You Choose?

If you prefer a firm cheese, go for Mahón-Menorca. But if you enjoy a semi-hard consistency, Toma might be the better pick.

Compare Mahón-Menorca Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Toma Cheese to Other Cheeses