Mimolette Cheese vs Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese

Mimolette Cheese is a smooth, creamy body cow-milk cheese from France, while Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese is firm to smooth and made from cow 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 Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese?

Vorarlberger Bergkäse is a hard cow's milk cheese from the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, made by hand from raw hay milk and protected as a PDO. It ages 3 to 6 months, sometimes past two years, and tastes nutty with herbal notes.

What's the Difference Between Mimolette Cheese and Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese?

• Milk treatment: Mimolette Cheese (Pasteurized), Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese (Raw)
• Texture: Mimolette Cheese (Smooth, creamy body), Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese (Firm to smooth)
• Rind: Mimolette Cheese (Natural), Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese (Smear-ripened to dried, brownish yellow to brown granular rind)
• Aging: Mimolette Cheese (6 weeks to 24 months), Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese (At least 3 months)
• Taste: Mimolette Cheese (Sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel), Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese (Spicy, becoming sharp with increasing age)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Mimolette Cheese Taste Like Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese?

Mimolette Cheese reads as sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel, while Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese brings spicy, becoming sharp with increasing age character. Aging plays into this as well. Mimolette Cheese at 6 weeks to 24 months develops a different profile than Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese at at least 3 months.

Can You Substitute Mimolette Cheese for Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese?

In most recipes, Mimolette Cheese and Vorarlberger Bergkäse 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 firm to smooth. Flavor-wise, Mimolette Cheese reads as sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel while Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese brings spicy, becoming sharp with increasing age notes.

Which Is Better, Mimolette Cheese or Vorarlberger Bergkäse 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 firm to smooth profile, Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Mimolette Cheese suits recipes that want sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel notes, while Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese fits dishes calling for spicy, becoming sharp with increasing age.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mimolette Cheese the same as Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Mimolette Cheese is typically aged 6 weeks to 24 months, Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese at least 3 months.

Is Mimolette Cheese similar to Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese?

Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.

Can I substitute Mimolette Cheese for Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Does Mimolette Cheese taste like Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese?

Mimolette Cheese reads as sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel, while Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese is spicy, becoming sharp with increasing age.

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 Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese made of?

Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using natural rennet. It's typically aged at least 3 months.

Which should I choose, Mimolette Cheese or Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Mimolette Cheese is smooth, creamy body, while Vorarlberger Bergkäse Cheese is firm to smooth.