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Queso Manchego vs Stilton Cheese
Queso Manchego
Stilton Cheese
In this article, we'll explore the answers to the most common questions about Queso Manchego and Stilton Cheese, including:
- "What is the difference between Queso Manchego and Stilton Cheese?"
- "Is Queso Manchego and Stilton Cheese the same?"
- "How does Queso Manchego compare to Stilton Cheese cheese?"
- "How does the taste of Queso Manchego compare to Stilton Cheese?"
- "Is Queso Manchego or Stilton Cheese better?"
Queso Manchego Overview
Manchego is a PDO-protected cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain, exclusively from the milk of Manchega sheep. It has a firm and compact consistency and a buttery texture, with a distinctive flavor that is well-developed and tangy, often with a slight piquancy in older cheeses. Manchego is aged for a minimum of two months and up to two years, developing a deeper flavor and harder texture with time.
Stilton Cheese Overview
Stilton is one of the best-known British blue cheeses, traditionally made in two varieties: blue and white. Blue Stilton is creamy and crumbly with a distinctively sharp, rich flavor produced by the blue veins. White Stilton, less common, is the milder of the two and does not have the blue veining.
Comparing the Two Cheeses
Country of Origin
Queso Manchego comes from Spain. Stilton Cheese originated from England.
Certification
Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Queso Manchego has a PDO (1996). Stilton Cheese has a PDO (1996).
Milk Type and Treatment
Queso Manchego is made with sheep milk that is typically raw or pasteurized. Stilton Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically pasteurized.
Composition and Texture
Queso Manchego's texture can be described as "compact". Stilton's texture can be described as "hard, blue-veined".
Taste and Aroma
Queso Manchego has a slightly acidic taste. Stilton Cheese has a spicy, strong taste.
Appearance and Aging
Queso Manchego's appearance is colored white to yellowish ivory , is available in cylindrical with flat faces and is aged fresco (2 weeks), semi-curado (3 weeks to 4 months), curado (3-6 months), viejo or anejo (1 year) . Stilton Cheese has a color of blue-grey .
Rind and Rennet Type
Queso Manchego's rind is described as pleita and flor imprints and uses animal rennet. Stilton Cheese's rind is described as natural .
Ranking
Queso Manchego is ranked #27 out of 996 types based on community views. Stilton is ranked #23 out of 996 types based on community views.
Pairing Comparison
| Queso Manchego | Stilton | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | Albariño, Almonds, Cava, Chorizo, Dried Figs, Dried Fruit, Tequila | Barleywine, Madeira |
| Other Good Pairings | Apples, Apricot, Asian Pear, Cabernet Sauvignon, Crackers, Dirty Martini, Fig Jam, Grapes, Green Apple, Grüner Veltliner, Hard Cider, Honey, Honeycomb, Madeira, Malbec, Pear, Port, Scotch | No additional pairings listed. |
For more details, check the full pairing guides on the Queso Manchego and Stilton pages.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Queso Manchego | Stilton Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Spain | England |
| Specific Origin | La Mancha Region | Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire |
| Certification | PDO (1996) | PDO (1996) |
| Milk Type | Sheep's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw or pasteurized | Pasteurized |
| Rind | Pleita and flor imprints | Natural |
| Texture | Compact | Hard, blue-veined |
| Taste | Slightly acidic | Spicy, strong |
| Colors | White to yellowish ivory | Blue-grey |
| Forms | Cylindrical with flat faces | Not Specified |
| Age | Fresco (2 weeks), Semi-curado (3 weeks to 4 months), Curado (3-6 months), Viejo or Anejo (1 year) | Not Specified |
| Rennet Type | Animal rennet | Not Specified |
Which One Should You Choose?
If you prefer a compact cheese, go for Queso Manchego. But if you enjoy a hard, blue-veined consistency, Stilton might be the better pick. Queso Manchego has a slightly acidic taste, making it great for various dishes. Meanwhile, Stilton offers a spicy, strong profile, ideal for different meals.
