Mimolette Cheese vs Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese
Mimolette Cheese
Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese
Mimolette Cheese is a smooth, creamy body cow-milk cheese from France, while Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is soft and made from cow milk, originating in Switzerland.
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 Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
Vacherin Mont d'Or is a soft, seasonal cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of Switzerland and France. It is bound in a strip of spruce bark, sold in a round spruce box, and often warmed in that box and eaten like fondue.
What's the Difference Between Mimolette Cheese and Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
- Origin: Mimolette Cheese (France), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (Switzerland)
- Milk treatment: Mimolette Cheese (Pasteurized), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (thermized (Swiss), raw (French))
- Texture: Mimolette Cheese (Smooth, creamy body), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (soft)
- Rind: Mimolette Cheese (Natural), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (washed rind)
- Aging: Mimolette Cheese (6 weeks to 24 months), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (at least 2 weeks)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Mimolette Cheese | Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | Switzerland |
| Specific Origin | Flanders Area Of Pas-De-Calais | Jura Region, Switzerland And France |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized | Thermized (Swiss), raw (French) |
| Texture | Smooth, creamy body | Soft |
| Rind | Natural | Washed rind |
| Aging | 6 weeks to 24 months | At least 2 weeks |
| Taste | Sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Mimolette Cheese Taste Like Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Mimolette Cheese at 6 weeks to 24 months develops a different profile than Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese at at least 2 weeks.
Can You Substitute Mimolette Cheese for Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
In most recipes, Mimolette Cheese and Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect smooth, creamy body bite and body where the recipe calls for soft.
Which Is Better, Mimolette Cheese or Vacherin Mont-d'Or 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 soft profile, Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mimolette Cheese the same as Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Mimolette Cheese originates in France, while Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese comes from Switzerland. Aging also differs: Mimolette Cheese is typically aged 6 weeks to 24 months, Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese at least 2 weeks.
Is Mimolette Cheese similar to Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Mimolette Cheese for Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Mimolette Cheese taste like Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
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 Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese made of?
Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (thermized (swiss), raw (french)). It's typically aged at least 2 weeks. It originates in Switzerland.
Which should I choose, Mimolette Cheese or Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Mimolette Cheese is smooth, creamy body, while Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is soft.