Provolone Cheese vs Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese
Provolone Cheese is a semi-hard, artisan cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is semi-soft and made from goat milk, originating in France.
What Is Provolone Cheese?
Provolone is an Italian semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk with a stretched curd. It runs from the very sharp piccante, aged at least four months, to the mild dolce.
What Is Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Sainte-Maure de Touraine is an unpasteurized goat cheese from the Touraine province of France, sold as a small ash-rolled log with a straw running through its centre. The straw carries the AOC seal and a number identifying the producer.
What's the Difference Between Provolone Cheese and Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
- Origin: Provolone Cheese (Italy), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (France)
- Milk type: Provolone Cheese (cow's milk), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (goat’s milk)
- Texture: Provolone Cheese (semi-hard, artisan), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (semi-soft)
- Aging: Provolone Cheese (at least 4 months for piccante), Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Minimum of ten days)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Provolone Cheese | Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | France |
| Specific Origin | Campania, Italy | Indre-Et-Loire And Bordering Cantons |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Goat’s milk |
| Milk Treatment | — | Raw |
| Texture | Semi-hard, artisan | Semi-soft |
| Rind | — | Gray-blue |
| Aging | At least 4 months for piccante | Minimum of ten days |
| Taste | Tangy | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Provolone Cheese Taste Like Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Provolone Cheese at at least 4 months for piccante develops a different profile than Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese at minimum of ten days.
Can You Substitute Provolone Cheese for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Provolone Cheese can stand in for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect semi-hard, artisan bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-soft.
Which Is Better, Provolone Cheese or Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semi-hard, artisan cheese, go with Provolone Cheese. For a semi-soft profile, Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Provolone Cheese the same as Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Provolone Cheese originates in Italy, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese comes from France. Provolone Cheese is made from cow milk; Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Provolone Cheese is typically aged at least 4 months for piccante, Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese minimum of ten days.
Is Provolone Cheese similar to Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Provolone Cheese for Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Provolone Cheese taste like Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Provolone Cheese made of?
Provolone Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged at least 4 months for piccante. It originates in Italy.
What is Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese made of?
Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is made from goat milk (raw). It's typically aged minimum of ten days. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Provolone Cheese or Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Provolone Cheese is semi-hard, artisan, while Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is semi-soft.