Maroilles Cheese vs Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese

Maroilles Cheese is a semisoft cow-milk cheese from France, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is semi-soft and made from goat milk, originating in France.

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 Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?

Sainte-Maure de Touraine is an unpasteurized goat cheese from the Touraine province of France, sold as a small ash-rolled log with a straw running through its centre. The straw carries the AOC seal and a number identifying the producer.

What's the Difference Between Maroilles Cheese and Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?

• Milk type: Maroilles Cheese (cow's milk), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (goat’s milk)
• Milk treatment: Maroilles Cheese (pasteurized and unpasteurized), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Raw)
• Texture: Maroilles Cheese (Semisoft), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (semi-soft)
• Rind: Maroilles Cheese (Reddish-orange color), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Gray-blue)
• Aging: Maroilles Cheese (5 weeks for 25-oz size), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Minimum of ten days)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Maroilles Cheese Taste Like Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?

Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Maroilles Cheese at 5 weeks for 25-oz size develops a different profile than Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese at minimum of ten days.

Can You Substitute Maroilles Cheese for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?

Maroilles Cheese can stand in for Sainte-Maure de Touraine 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 semi-soft.

Which Is Better, Maroilles Cheese or Sainte-Maure de Touraine 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 semi-soft profile, Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is the better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Maroilles Cheese the same as Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Maroilles Cheese is made from cow milk; Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Maroilles Cheese is typically aged 5 weeks for 25-oz size, Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese minimum of ten days.

Is Maroilles Cheese similar to Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?

Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.

Can I substitute Maroilles Cheese for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.

Does Maroilles Cheese taste like Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?

They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.

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 Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese made of?

Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is made from goat milk (raw). It's typically aged minimum of ten days. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Maroilles Cheese or Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Maroilles Cheese is semisoft, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is semi-soft.