Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese vs Queso de Media Flor de Guía
Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is a hard, dry and grainy cow-milk cheese, while Queso de Media Flor de Guía is dense, compact, sometimes rubbery or creamy and made from cow, goat, and sheep milk.
What Is Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio is a long-aged Parmigiano Reggiano, the hard granular cow's milk cheese of Parma and Reggio Emilia. It is dry and grainy, with the sharp, salty, savory taste that makes it a grating cheese.
What Is Queso de Media Flor de Guía?
Queso de Media Flor de Guía is a full-fat or half-fat cheese produced in the same region as Queso de Flor de Guía, using the same milk proportions. However, its curdling process involves at least 50% vegetable rennet, with the remainder being animal rennet or other starter cultures. It has a cylindrical shape, with a diameter of 15–30 cm and a height of 4–8 cm. Its texture varies from creamy to very hard depending on its maturity. The cheese has a mild acidic flavor with slight sharpness, and its aroma includes lactic, vegetal, and sometimes floral or roasted notes. It is matured for at least 15 days for semi-mature and over 60 days for mature cheese.
What's the Difference Between Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese and Queso de Media Flor de Guía?
- Milk type: Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (cow), Queso de Media Flor de Guía (Sheep (Canary Island breed), with up to 40% cow and 10% goat milk)
- Texture: Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (hard, dry and grainy), Queso de Media Flor de Guía (Dense, compact, sometimes rubbery or creamy)
- Taste: Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (sharp, salty and savory), Queso de Media Flor de Guía (Mildly acidic with slight sharpness)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese | Queso de Media Flor de Guía | |
|---|---|---|
| Specific Origin | Parma And Reggio Emilia, Italy | Gáldar, Moya, And Santa María De Guía, Gran Canaria |
| Milk Type | Cow | Sheep (Canary Island breed), with up to 40% cow and 10% goat milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | — |
| Texture | Hard, dry and grainy | Dense, compact, sometimes rubbery or creamy |
| Rind | — | Ivory-colored when young, thick and brown when mature |
| Aging | — | 15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature) |
| Taste | Sharp, salty and savory | Mildly acidic with slight sharpness |
Taste Comparison: Does Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese Taste Like Queso de Media Flor de Guía?
Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese reads as sharp, salty and savory, while Queso de Media Flor de Guía brings mildly acidic with slight sharpness character. More specifically, Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese shows strong umami from a high glutamate content, while Queso de Media Flor de Guía leans toward lactic, vegetal (cardoon and nuts), animal (rennet), sometimes floral or roasted.
Can You Substitute Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese for Queso de Media Flor de Guía?
Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese can stand in for Queso de Media Flor de Guía in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect hard, dry and grainy bite and body where the recipe calls for dense, compact, sometimes rubbery or creamy. Flavor-wise, Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese reads as sharp, salty and savory while Queso de Media Flor de Guía brings mildly acidic with slight sharpness notes.
Which Is Better, Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese or Queso de Media Flor de Guía?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a hard, dry and grainy cheese, go with Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese. For a dense, compact, sometimes rubbery or creamy profile, Queso de Media Flor de Guía is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese suits recipes that want sharp, salty and savory notes, while Queso de Media Flor de Guía fits dishes calling for mildly acidic with slight sharpness.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese the same as Queso de Media Flor de Guía?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is made from cow milk; Queso de Media Flor de Guía uses cow, goat, and sheep.
Is Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese similar to Queso de Media Flor de Guía?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese for Queso de Media Flor de Guía?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese taste like Queso de Media Flor de Guía?
Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese reads as sharp, salty and savory, while Queso de Media Flor de Guía is mildly acidic with slight sharpness.
What is Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese made of?
Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal (calf) rennet.
What is Queso de Media Flor de Guía made of?
Queso de Media Flor de Guía is made from cow, goat, and sheep milk, using at least 50% vegetable rennet, remainder can be animal rennet or starter cultures rennet. It's typically aged 15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature).
Which should I choose, Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese or Queso de Media Flor de Guía?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy, while Queso de Media Flor de Guía is dense, compact, sometimes rubbery or creamy.