Mahón-Menorca Cheese vs Tomme Cheese

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

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

Tomme Cheese Overview

Tomme is a type of cheese produced in various regions across France, Switzerland, and Canada, typically made from cow's, goat's, or sheep's milk. It has a round shape and a variable texture that can range from dense and firm to creamy and soft, with a flavor that can be mild or pungent depending on age and production specifics.

Comparing the Two Cheeses

Ranking

Mahón-Menorca is ranked #224 out of 375 types.

Tomme is ranked #151 out of 375 types.

Country of Origin

Mahón-Menorca Cheese comes from Spain. Tomme Cheese originated from .

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 (1985). Tomme is not a protected cheese.

Milk Type and Treatment

Mahón-Menorca Cheese is made with cow or sheep milk that is typically raw. Tomme Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically other.

Composition and Texture

Mahón-Menorca's texture can be described as "firm". Tomme's texture can be described as "creamy, pliable".

Flavor and Aroma

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

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 . Tomme Cheese has a color of gray or brownish , comes in bigger and rounder than thick, 6−40 inches diameter, 3−4 inches thick and has an aging period of varies .

Rind and Rennet Type

Mahón-Menorca Cheese's rind is described as characteristic orangish and uses vegetable (cynara cardunculus) rennet. Tomme Cheese's rind is described as grayish natural , with varies rennet.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Mahón-Menorca Cheese Tomme Cheese
Country of Origin Spain
Specific Origin Menorca, Balearic Islands France, Switzerland, United States
Certification PDO (1985) None
Milk Type Friesian, Menorcan, Brown Alpine cow’s milk, some ewe’s milk (max 5%) Varied (commonly cow)
Milk Treatment Raw or any authorized preservation technology Low heat treatment
Rind Characteristic orangish Grayish natural
Texture Firm Creamy, pliable
Flavor Salty and spicy Varied
Aroma Lactic, buttery
Colors Ivory-yellow to orangey or brownish gray Gray or brownish
Forms Parallelepiped shape Bigger and rounder than thick, 6−40 inches diameter, 3−4 inches thick
Age Tender: 21-60 days, Semi-cured: 2-5 months, Vintage: >5 months Varies
Rennet Type Vegetable (Cynara cardunculus) Varies

Compare Mahón-Menorca Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Tomme Cheese to Other Cheeses