Mont d'Or Cheese vs Selles-sur-Cher Cheese

Mont d'Or Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese is fine and firm and made from goat milk, originating in France.

What Is Mont d'Or Cheese?

Mont d'Or, or Vacherin Mont d'Or, is a seasonal, soft cheese made from cow's milk in the Jura region of France. Available from September to May, it has a delicate, creamy texture and a rich, earthy flavor. Mont d'Or is traditionally eaten warmed in the box it comes in, making the interior deliciously runny.

What Is Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

Selles-sur-Cher is a French goat cheese from the Centre-Val de Loire region. It features a distinctive ash-covered rind and a firm yet creamy texture. The cheese has a subtle nutty flavor with a hint of tanginess. As it matures, the flavor intensifies, becoming more pronounced and slightly salty.

What's the Difference Between Mont d'Or Cheese and Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

• Milk type: Mont d'Or Cheese (Cow's milk), Selles-sur-Cher Cheese (Whole goat’s milk)
• Texture: Mont d'Or Cheese (Soft), Selles-sur-Cher Cheese (Fine and firm)
• Rind: Mont d'Or Cheese (Washed rind), Selles-sur-Cher Cheese (Ash-coated, light to dark ash)
• Aging: Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days), Selles-sur-Cher Cheese (Ten days minimum)
• Taste: Mont d'Or Cheese (Resinous, mild to pungent), Selles-sur-Cher Cheese (Fresh, hazelnut)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Mont d'Or Cheese Taste Like Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

Mont d'Or Cheese reads as resinous, mild to pungent, while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese brings fresh, hazelnut character. More specifically, Mont d'Or Cheese shows known for its creamy taste and powerful aroma; gets resinous flavor from spruce bark, while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese leans toward chalky-white, homogenous, highlighted by rind. Aging plays into this as well. Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days develops a different profile than Selles-sur-Cher Cheese at ten days minimum.

Can You Substitute Mont d'Or Cheese for Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

Mont d'Or Cheese can stand in for Selles-sur-Cher 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 fine and firm. Flavor-wise, Mont d'Or Cheese reads as resinous, mild to pungent while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese brings fresh, hazelnut notes.

Which Is Better, Mont d'Or Cheese or Selles-sur-Cher 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 fine and firm profile, Selles-sur-Cher Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Mont d'Or Cheese suits recipes that want resinous, mild to pungent notes, while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese fits dishes calling for fresh, hazelnut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mont d'Or Cheese the same as Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk; Selles-sur-Cher Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Mont d'Or Cheese is typically aged 21 to 60 days, Selles-sur-Cher Cheese ten days minimum.

Is Mont d'Or Cheese similar to Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.

Can I substitute Mont d'Or Cheese for Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.

Does Mont d'Or Cheese taste like Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

Mont d'Or Cheese reads as resinous, mild to pungent, while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese is fresh, hazelnut.

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 Selles-sur-Cher Cheese made of?

Selles-sur-Cher Cheese is made from goat milk, using small amount rennet. It's typically aged ten days minimum. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Mont d'Or Cheese or Selles-sur-Cher Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Mont d'Or Cheese is soft, while Selles-sur-Cher Cheese is fine and firm.