Mimolette Cheese vs Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese
Mimolette Cheese is a smooth, creamy body cow-milk cheese from France, while Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese is compact structure with negligible friability, possibly with some holes and made from sheep milk.
What Is Mimolette Cheese?
Mimolette is a hard, bright orange cow's milk cheese made around Lille in northern France. It is sold at several ages, from young wheels that taste like Parmesan to extra-old ones with a hazelnut flavor and a grey, mite-worked rind.
What Is Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese?
Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane is a cheese from Italy, specifically produced in the province of Pisa. It is made from raw, whole sheep's milk and uses vegetable rennet derived from wild cardoon or artichoke inflorescences. The cheese is available in four types based on maturation: fresh, semi-mature, mature, and extra-mature. The cheese has a cylindrical shape with a rind that ranges from pale straw yellow to deep yellow, and it can be coated in olive oil and ash. It has a compact texture with a flavor that is initially mild, with scents of milk and flowers, and a slightly spicy aftertaste. The cheese is known for its aroma reminiscent of milk and wild cardoon, with scents of aromatic plants and yellow flowers.
What's the Difference Between Mimolette Cheese and Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese?
- Milk type: Mimolette Cheese (Cow's milk), Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese (Sheep's milk)
- Milk treatment: Mimolette Cheese (Pasteurized), Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese (Raw)
- Texture: Mimolette Cheese (Smooth, creamy body), Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese (Compact structure with negligible friability, possibly with some holes)
- Rind: Mimolette Cheese (Natural), Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese (Ranges from pale straw yellow to deep yellow; can be coated in olive oil and ash)
- Aging: Mimolette Cheese (6 weeks to 24 months), Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese (Fresh (7-44 days), Semi-mature (45 days to 6 months), Mature (6 to 12 months), Extra-mature (over 12 months))
- Taste: Mimolette Cheese (Sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel), Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese (Initially mild with scents of milk and flowers, slightly spicy aftertaste)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Mimolette Cheese | Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | — |
| Specific Origin | Flanders Area Of Pas-De-Calais | Province Of Pisa, Including The Municipalities Of Volterra, Pomarance, Montecatini Val Di Cecina, Castelnuovo Val Di Cecina, And Monteverdi. |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized | Raw |
| Texture | Smooth, creamy body | Compact structure with negligible friability, possibly with some holes |
| Rind | Natural | Ranges from pale straw yellow to deep yellow; can be coated in olive oil and ash |
| Aging | 6 weeks to 24 months | Fresh (7-44 days), Semi-mature (45 days to 6 months), Mature (6 to 12 months), Extra-mature (over 12 months) |
| Taste | Sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel | Initially mild with scents of milk and flowers, slightly spicy aftertaste |
Taste Comparison: Does Mimolette Cheese Taste Like Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese?
Mimolette Cheese reads as sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel, while Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese brings initially mild with scents of milk and flowers, slightly spicy aftertaste character. On the nose, Mimolette Cheese offers butterscotch, contrasted with Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese's persistent, reminiscent of milk and wild cardoon, with scents of aromatic plants and yellow flowers. More specifically, Mimolette Cheese shows mature: dense, waxy, hints of butterscotch; young: mild, while Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese leans toward scents of milk, flowers, and a note of cardoon; fresh green echoes; tastiness and a slightly astringent quality in mature and extra-mature cheeses. Aging plays into this as well. Mimolette Cheese at 6 weeks to 24 months develops a different profile than Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese at fresh (7-44 days), semi-mature (45 days to 6 months), mature (6 to 12 months), extra-mature (over 12 months).
Can You Substitute Mimolette Cheese for Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese?
Mimolette Cheese can stand in for Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect smooth, creamy body bite and body where the recipe calls for compact structure with negligible friability, possibly with some holes. Flavor-wise, Mimolette Cheese reads as sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel while Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese brings initially mild with scents of milk and flowers, slightly spicy aftertaste notes.
Which Is Better, Mimolette Cheese or Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a smooth, creamy body cheese, go with Mimolette Cheese. For a compact structure with negligible friability, possibly with some holes profile, Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Mimolette Cheese suits recipes that want sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel notes, while Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese fits dishes calling for initially mild with scents of milk and flowers, slightly spicy aftertaste.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mimolette Cheese the same as Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Mimolette Cheese is made from cow milk; Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Mimolette Cheese is typically aged 6 weeks to 24 months, Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese fresh (7-44 days), semi-mature (45 days to 6 months), mature (6 to 12 months), extra-mature (over 12 months).
Is Mimolette Cheese similar to Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Mimolette Cheese for Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Mimolette Cheese taste like Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese?
Mimolette Cheese reads as sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel, while Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese is initially mild with scents of milk and flowers, slightly spicy aftertaste. Aromas also diverge. Mimolette Cheese leans butterscotch, and Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese is closer to persistent, reminiscent of milk and wild cardoon, with scents of aromatic plants and yellow flowers.
What is Mimolette Cheese made of?
Mimolette Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 6 weeks to 24 months. It originates in France.
What is Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese made of?
Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese is made from sheep milk (raw), using vegetable rennet from wild cardoon or artichoke inflorescences rennet. It's typically aged fresh (7-44 days), semi-mature (45 days to 6 months), mature (6 to 12 months), extra-mature (over 12 months).
Which should I choose, Mimolette Cheese or Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Mimolette Cheese is smooth, creamy body, while Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane Cheese is compact structure with negligible friability, possibly with some holes.