Mont d'Or Cheese vs Pérail Cheese
Mont d'Or Cheese
Pérail Cheese
Mont d'Or Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Pérail Cheese is soft and made from sheep milk, originating in France.
What Is Mont d'Or Cheese?
Mont d'Or is a seasonal soft cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of France and Switzerland, wrapped in a band of spruce that gives it its flavor. It sells from September 10 to May 10 and is usually warmed in its spruce box and eaten like fondue.
What Is Pérail Cheese?
Pérail is a soft sheep's milk cheese from Aveyron in southern France, sold in small rounds with an ivory, wrinkly rind. Older wheels taste distinctly sheepy.
What's the Difference Between Mont d'Or Cheese and Pérail Cheese?
- Milk type: Mont d'Or Cheese (Cow's milk), Pérail Cheese (sheep)
- Texture: Mont d'Or Cheese (Soft), Pérail Cheese (soft)
- Rind: Mont d'Or Cheese (Washed rind), Pérail Cheese (wrinkly, mainly Geotrichum candidum)
- Aging: Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days), Pérail Cheese (2 to 8 weeks)
- Taste: Mont d'Or Cheese (Resinous, mild to pungent), Pérail Cheese (distinctly sheepy in older cheeses)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Mont d'Or Cheese | Pérail Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | France |
| Specific Origin | Jura Mountains, Doubs | Aveyron, France |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Sheep |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | — |
| Texture | Soft | Soft |
| Rind | Washed rind | Wrinkly, mainly Geotrichum candidum |
| Aging | 21 to 60 days | 2 to 8 weeks |
| Taste | Resinous, mild to pungent | Distinctly sheepy in older cheeses |
Taste Comparison: Does Mont d'Or Cheese Taste Like Pérail Cheese?
Mont d'Or Cheese reads as resinous, mild to pungent, while Pérail Cheese brings distinctly sheepy in older cheeses character. Aging plays into this as well. Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days develops a different profile than Pérail Cheese at 2 to 8 weeks.
Can You Substitute Mont d'Or Cheese for Pérail Cheese?
Mont d'Or Cheese can stand in for Pérail Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for soft. Flavor-wise, Mont d'Or Cheese reads as resinous, mild to pungent while Pérail Cheese brings distinctly sheepy in older cheeses notes.
Which Is Better, Mont d'Or Cheese or Pérail Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Mont d'Or Cheese. For a soft profile, Pérail Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Mont d'Or Cheese suits recipes that want resinous, mild to pungent notes, while Pérail Cheese fits dishes calling for distinctly sheepy in older cheeses.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mont d'Or Cheese the same as Pérail Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk; Pérail Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Mont d'Or Cheese is typically aged 21 to 60 days, Pérail Cheese 2 to 8 weeks.
Is Mont d'Or Cheese similar to Pérail Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Mont d'Or Cheese for Pérail Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Mont d'Or Cheese taste like Pérail Cheese?
Mont d'Or Cheese reads as resinous, mild to pungent, while Pérail Cheese is distinctly sheepy in older cheeses.
What is Mont d'Or Cheese made of?
Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 21 to 60 days. It originates in France.
What is Pérail Cheese made of?
Pérail Cheese is made from sheep milk. It's typically aged 2 to 8 weeks. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Mont d'Or Cheese or Pérail Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Mont d'Or Cheese is soft, while Pérail Cheese is soft.