Pule Cheese vs Stelvio Cheese
Pule Cheese is a artisan cheese from Serbia, while Stelvio Cheese is compact, pliable, and springy and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.
What Is Pule Cheese?
Pule, or magareći sir, is a Serbian cheese made from 60% Balkan donkey milk and 40% goat's milk at the Zasavica Nature Reserve. It is reported to be the world's most expensive cheese at US$1300 per kilogram.
What Is Stelvio Cheese?
Stelvio, known in German as Stilfser, is a protected designation of origin cow's milk cheese from the Autonomous Province of Bolzano in northern Italy. It is known for its yellow to orange-brown rind, springy pale yellow paste, and pronounced, sometimes sharp taste.
What's the Difference Between Pule Cheese and Stelvio Cheese?
- Origin: Pule Cheese (Serbia), Stelvio Cheese (Italy)
- Milk type: Pule Cheese (donkey's milk), Stelvio Cheese (Cow)
- Texture: Pule Cheese (artisan), Stelvio Cheese (Compact, pliable, and springy)
- Taste: Pule Cheese (nutty and earthy), Stelvio Cheese (Aromatic and marked, sometimes pungent)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Pule Cheese | Stelvio Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Serbia | Italy |
| Specific Origin | Zasavica | Autonomous Province Of Bolzano |
| Milk Type | Donkey's milk | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | — | Lightly skimmed to regulate fat content |
| Texture | Artisan | Compact, pliable, and springy |
| Rind | — | Yellow to orange-brown |
| Aging | — | Minimum of sixty days |
| Taste | Nutty and earthy | Aromatic and marked, sometimes pungent |
Taste Comparison: Does Pule Cheese Taste Like Stelvio Cheese?
Pule Cheese reads as nutty and earthy, while Stelvio Cheese brings aromatic and marked, sometimes pungent character. More specifically, Pule Cheese shows nutty and earthy, reputedly similar to manchego, while Stelvio Cheese leans toward typical of the mountain cheeses, small irregular eyeholes.
Can You Substitute Pule Cheese for Stelvio Cheese?
Pule Cheese can stand in for Stelvio Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect artisan bite and body where the recipe calls for compact, pliable, and springy. Flavor-wise, Pule Cheese reads as nutty and earthy while Stelvio Cheese brings aromatic and marked, sometimes pungent notes.
Which Is Better, Pule Cheese or Stelvio Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a artisan cheese, go with Pule Cheese. For a compact, pliable, and springy profile, Stelvio Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Pule Cheese suits recipes that want nutty and earthy notes, while Stelvio Cheese fits dishes calling for aromatic and marked, sometimes pungent.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pule Cheese the same as Stelvio Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Pule Cheese originates in Serbia, while Stelvio Cheese comes from Italy.
Is Pule Cheese similar to Stelvio Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Pule Cheese for Stelvio Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Pule Cheese taste like Stelvio Cheese?
Pule Cheese reads as nutty and earthy, while Stelvio Cheese is aromatic and marked, sometimes pungent.
What is Pule Cheese made of?
Pule Cheese is made from milk. It originates in Serbia.
What is Stelvio Cheese made of?
Stelvio Cheese is made from cow milk (lightly skimmed to regulate fat content), using calf rennet or other rennet including plant origin, not genetically modified rennet. It's typically aged minimum of sixty days. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Pule Cheese or Stelvio Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Pule Cheese is artisan, while Stelvio Cheese is compact, pliable, and springy.