Mont d'Or Cheese vs Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese
Mont d'Or Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese is soft, melty, creamy, becomes firmer as it ripens and made from cow, goat, or sheep milk.
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 Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese?
Tomme des Pyrénées is a mild pressed cheese from the French Pyrenees, made from raw or pasteurized cow's milk. It is known for its supple paste, slightly salty taste, and the black or gold wax skin that covers many wheels.
What's the Difference Between Mont d'Or Cheese and Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese?
- Milk type: Mont d'Or Cheese (Cow's milk), Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese (Cow's milk, goat's milk, mixed milk (cow's milk with ewe's milk or goat's milk, goat's milk with ewe's milk))
- Texture: Mont d'Or Cheese (Soft), Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese (Soft, melty, creamy, becomes firmer as it ripens)
- Rind: Mont d'Or Cheese (Washed rind), Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese (Orange with hints of white, yellow, or grey; black or gold coating for heat-treated milk cheeses)
- Aging: Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days), Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese (Minimum ripening period varies from 21 to 90 days depending on weight and milk type)
- Taste: Mont d'Or Cheese (Resinous, mild to pungent), Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese (Varies from fresh whey aromas to more pronounced aromas)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Mont d'Or Cheese | Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | — |
| Specific Origin | Jura Mountains, Doubs | French Side Of The Pyrenees |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's milk, goat's milk, mixed milk (cow's milk with ewe's milk or goat's milk, goat's milk with ewe's milk) |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Heat-treated or raw |
| Texture | Soft | Soft, melty, creamy, becomes firmer as it ripens |
| Rind | Washed rind | Orange with hints of white, yellow, or grey; black or gold coating for heat-treated milk cheeses |
| Aging | 21 to 60 days | Minimum ripening period varies from 21 to 90 days depending on weight and milk type |
| Taste | Resinous, mild to pungent | Varies from fresh whey aromas to more pronounced aromas |
Taste Comparison: Does Mont d'Or Cheese Taste Like Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese?
Mont d'Or Cheese reads as resinous, mild to pungent, while Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese brings varies from fresh whey aromas to more pronounced aromas character. More specifically, Mont d'Or Cheese shows known for its creamy taste and powerful aroma; gets resinous flavor from spruce bark, while Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese leans toward not excessively bitter. Aging plays into this as well. Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days develops a different profile than Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese at minimum ripening period varies from 21 to 90 days depending on weight and milk type.
Can You Substitute Mont d'Or Cheese for Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese?
Mont d'Or Cheese can stand in for Tomme des Pyrénées 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, melty, creamy, becomes firmer as it ripens. Flavor-wise, Mont d'Or Cheese reads as resinous, mild to pungent while Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese brings varies from fresh whey aromas to more pronounced aromas notes.
Which Is Better, Mont d'Or Cheese or Tomme des Pyrénées 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, melty, creamy, becomes firmer as it ripens profile, Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Mont d'Or Cheese suits recipes that want resinous, mild to pungent notes, while Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese fits dishes calling for varies from fresh whey aromas to more pronounced aromas.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mont d'Or Cheese the same as Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk; Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese uses cow, goat, or sheep. Aging also differs: Mont d'Or Cheese is typically aged 21 to 60 days, Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese minimum ripening period varies from 21 to 90 days depending on weight and milk type.
Is Mont d'Or Cheese similar to Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Mont d'Or Cheese for Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Mont d'Or Cheese taste like Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese?
Mont d'Or Cheese reads as resinous, mild to pungent, while Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese is varies from fresh whey aromas to more pronounced aromas.
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 Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese made of?
Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (heat-treated or raw), using coagulating enzyme (not limited to animal rennet) rennet. It's typically aged minimum ripening period varies from 21 to 90 days depending on weight and milk type.
Which should I choose, Mont d'Or Cheese or Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Mont d'Or Cheese is soft, while Tomme des Pyrénées Cheese is soft, melty, creamy, becomes firmer as it ripens.