Metsovone Cheese vs Sfela Cheese
Metsovone Cheese is a semihard to hard cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Sfela Cheese is semi-hard and made from goat or sheep milk, originating in Greece.
What Is Metsovone Cheese?
Metsovone is a smoked, semi-hard cheese from Metsovo in the Pindus mountains of Greece. Made from cow's milk or a mix of cow and sheep or goat milk, it is one of the few Greek cheeses that is smoked, giving it a distinctive flavor that is nutty and buttery with smokey undertones.
What Is Sfela Cheese?
Sfela is a semi-hard cheese from the Peloponnese region of Greece. Made from sheep's milk or a mix of sheep and goat milk, it is often fried due to its high melting point. Sfela has a salty, tangy flavor, making it a popular choice for traditional Greek fried cheese dishes.
What's the Difference Between Metsovone Cheese and Sfela Cheese?
- Milk type: Metsovone Cheese (Cow's milk, Ewe's or Goat's milk), Sfela Cheese (Raw sheep’s milk or combination with goat’s milk)
- Milk treatment: Metsovone Cheese (Smoked), Sfela Cheese (Raw)
- Texture: Metsovone Cheese (Semihard to hard), Sfela Cheese (Semi-hard)
- Taste: Metsovone Cheese (Slightly salty and piquant), Sfela Cheese (Unique personality)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metsovone Cheese | Sfela Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | Greece |
| Specific Origin | Metsovo, Epirus | Messinia And Laconia, Peloponnese |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk, Ewe's or Goat's milk | Raw sheep’s milk or combination with goat’s milk |
| Milk Treatment | Smoked | Raw |
| Texture | Semihard to hard | Semi-hard |
| Rind | Waxed | — |
| Aging | 3 months | — |
| Taste | Slightly salty and piquant | Unique personality |
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Where to buy Metsovone Cheese and Sfela Cheese
Metsovone Cheese
Sfela Cheese
Taste Comparison: Does Metsovone Cheese Taste Like Sfela Cheese?
Metsovone Cheese reads as slightly salty and piquant, while Sfela Cheese brings unique personality character. On the nose, Metsovone Cheese offers natural smoke, contrasted with Sfela Cheese's excellent aroma. More specifically, Metsovone Cheese shows smoked cheese resembling italian provolone with a special smoked perfume, while Sfela Cheese leans toward harder than feta, excellent aroma, unique personality.
Can You Substitute Metsovone Cheese for Sfela Cheese?
Metsovone Cheese can stand in for Sfela Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect semihard to hard bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-hard. Flavor-wise, Metsovone Cheese reads as slightly salty and piquant while Sfela Cheese brings unique personality notes.
Which Is Better, Metsovone Cheese or Sfela Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semihard to hard cheese, go with Metsovone Cheese. For a semi-hard profile, Sfela Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Metsovone Cheese suits recipes that want slightly salty and piquant notes, while Sfela Cheese fits dishes calling for unique personality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Metsovone Cheese the same as Sfela Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Metsovone Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Sfela Cheese uses goat or sheep.
Is Metsovone Cheese similar to Sfela Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Metsovone Cheese for Sfela Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Metsovone Cheese taste like Sfela Cheese?
Metsovone Cheese reads as slightly salty and piquant, while Sfela Cheese is unique personality. Aromas also diverge. Metsovone Cheese leans natural smoke, and Sfela Cheese is closer to excellent aroma.
What is Metsovone Cheese made of?
Metsovone Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (smoked). It's typically aged 3 months. It originates in Greece.
What is Sfela Cheese made of?
Sfela Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk (raw), using traditional rennet. It originates in Greece.
Which should I choose, Metsovone Cheese or Sfela Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Metsovone Cheese is semihard to hard, while Sfela Cheese is semi-hard.
See full profiles: Metsovone Cheese and Sfela Cheese.