Pecorino Cheese vs Stilton Cheese

Pecorino Cheese

Stilton Cheese

In this article, we'll explore the answers to the most common questions about Pecorino Cheese and Stilton Cheese, including:

  • "What is the difference between Pecorino Cheese and Stilton Cheese?"
  • "Is Pecorino Cheese and Stilton Cheese the same?"
  • "How does Pecorino Cheese compare to Stilton Cheese cheese?"
  • "How does the taste of Pecorino Cheese compare to Stilton Cheese?"
  • "Is Pecorino Cheese or Stilton Cheese better?"

Pecorino Cheese Overview

Pecorino is a term for Italian cheeses made from sheep's milk. The most well-known varieties include Pecorino Romano, Pecorino Toscano, and Pecorino Sardo, each named after their region of origin. These cheeses vary in texture from soft and buttery to hard and granular, and they range in flavor from mild to sharp and salty, often aged to develop deeper flavors.

Stilton Cheese Overview

Stilton is one of the best-known British blue cheeses, traditionally made in two varieties: blue and white. Blue Stilton is creamy and crumbly with a distinctively sharp, rich flavor produced by the blue veins. White Stilton, less common, is the milder of the two and does not have the blue veining.

Comparing the Two Cheeses

Country of Origin

Pecorino Cheese comes from Italy. Stilton Cheese originated from England.

Certification

Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Pecorino is not a protected cheese. Stilton Cheese has a PDO (1996).

Milk Type and Treatment

Pecorino Cheese is made with sheep milk. Stilton Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically pasteurized.

Composition and Texture

Pecorino's texture can be described as "hard". Stilton's texture can be described as "hard, blue-veined".

Taste and Aroma

Stilton Cheese has a spicy, strong taste.

Appearance and Aging

Stilton Cheese has a color of blue-grey .

Rind and Rennet Type

Stilton Cheese's rind is described as natural .

Ranking

Pecorino is ranked #167 out of 996 types based on community views. Stilton is ranked #26 out of 996 types based on community views.

Pairing Comparison

Pecorino Stilton
Best Pairings No pairings listed. Barleywine, Madeira
Other Good Pairings No additional pairings listed. No additional pairings listed.

For more details, check the full pairing guides on the Pecorino and Stilton pages.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Pecorino Cheese Stilton Cheese
Country of Origin Italy England
Specific Origin Not Specified Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire
Certification Not Specified PDO (1996)
Milk Type Sheep's milk Cow's milk
Milk Treatment Not Specified Pasteurized
Rind Not Specified Natural
Texture Hard Hard, blue-veined
Taste Not Specified Spicy, strong
Colors Not Specified Blue-grey

Which One Should You Choose?

If you prefer a hard cheese, go for Pecorino. But if you enjoy a hard, blue-veined consistency, Stilton might be the better pick.

Compare Pecorino Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Stilton Cheese to Other Cheeses

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