Maroilles Cheese vs Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese
Maroilles Cheese
Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese
Maroilles Cheese is a semisoft cow-milk cheese from France, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese is soft, semi-hard, compact with eyes and made from cow, goat, and sheep milk.
What Is Maroilles Cheese?
Maroilles is a cow's milk cheese from northern France, sold in rectangular blocks with a moist orange-red washed rind. It is known for its strong smell and takes its name from the village of Maroilles, where it has been made since the 10th century.
What Is Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?
Picón Bejes-Tresviso is a blue cheese from the Liébana valley in Cantabria, Spain, made from a mix of cow, sheep and goat milk. It has held DO protection since 1994 and finishes in natural limestone caves, which gives it teal veins and a strong, slightly spicy bite.
What's the Difference Between Maroilles Cheese and Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?
- Milk type: Maroilles Cheese (cow's milk), Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese (Cow’s, sheep’s, and goat’s milk)
- Texture: Maroilles Cheese (Semisoft), Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese (Soft, Semi-Hard, Compact with eyes)
- Rind: Maroilles Cheese (Reddish-orange color), Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese (Soft, thin, smooth)
- Aging: Maroilles Cheese (5 weeks for 25-oz size), Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese (at least 2 months in a natural limestone cave)
- Taste: Maroilles Cheese (Creamy taste, powerful aroma), Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese (Slightly piquant)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Maroilles Cheese | Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | — |
| Specific Origin | Nord And Aisne | Liébana District (Potes, Pesaguero, Cabezón De Liébana, Camaleño, Castro Cillorigo, Tresviso, Vega De Liébana, And Peñarrubia) |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow’s, sheep’s, and goat’s milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized and unpasteurized | — |
| Texture | Semisoft | Soft, Semi-Hard, Compact with eyes |
| Rind | Reddish-orange color | Soft, thin, smooth |
| Aging | 5 weeks for 25-oz size | At least 2 months in a natural limestone cave |
| Taste | Creamy taste, powerful aroma | Slightly piquant |
Taste Comparison: Does Maroilles Cheese Taste Like Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?
Maroilles Cheese reads as creamy taste, powerful aroma, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese brings slightly piquant character. More specifically, Maroilles Cheese shows pungent smell of cellars, wet brick, undergrowth, light ammoniac, milky, slightly salty, with hints of milk curd, hazelnut, and garlic, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese leans toward powerful, slightly spicy. Aging plays into this as well. Maroilles Cheese at 5 weeks for 25-oz size develops a different profile than Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese at at least 2 months in a natural limestone cave.
Can You Substitute Maroilles Cheese for Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?
Maroilles Cheese can stand in for Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect semisoft bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, semi-hard, compact with eyes. Flavor-wise, Maroilles Cheese reads as creamy taste, powerful aroma while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese brings slightly piquant notes.
Which Is Better, Maroilles Cheese or Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semisoft cheese, go with Maroilles Cheese. For a soft, semi-hard, compact with eyes profile, Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Maroilles Cheese suits recipes that want creamy taste, powerful aroma notes, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese fits dishes calling for slightly piquant.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maroilles Cheese the same as Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Maroilles Cheese is made from cow milk; Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese uses cow, goat, and sheep. Aging also differs: Maroilles Cheese is typically aged 5 weeks for 25-oz size, Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese at least 2 months in a natural limestone cave.
Is Maroilles Cheese similar to Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Maroilles Cheese for Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Maroilles Cheese taste like Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?
Maroilles Cheese reads as creamy taste, powerful aroma, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese is slightly piquant.
What is Maroilles Cheese made of?
Maroilles Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized and unpasteurized), using calf rennet. It's typically aged 5 weeks for 25-oz size. It originates in France.
What is Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese made of?
Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese is made from cow, goat, and sheep milk. It's typically aged at least 2 months in a natural limestone cave.
Which should I choose, Maroilles Cheese or Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Maroilles Cheese is semisoft, while Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese is soft, semi-hard, compact with eyes.