Queso de Flor de Guía vs Remedou Cheese

Queso de Flor de Guía is a dense, compact, pasty cow, goat, and sheep-milk cheese, while Remedou Cheese is hard and made from cow milk, originating in Belgium.

What Is Queso de Flor de Guía?

Queso de Flor de Guía is a full-fat or half-fat cheese from Spain, specifically produced in Gáldar, Moya, and Santa María de Guía in Gran Canaria. It is made primarily from Canary Island sheep’s milk, with up to 40% Canary Island cattle milk and up to 10% Canary Island goat milk. The milk is curdled exclusively using vegetable rennet derived from the dried flower heads of Cynara cardunculus var. ferocissima and Cynara scolymus. The cheese has a cylindrical shape and varies in size from 0.5 to 5 kg. Its texture is dense, compact, and pasty, with a very soft and creamy interior when semi-mature and a harder body when fully matured. The flavor is highly aromatic, acidic, and bitter, with mild burning and astringent sensations. It matures for at least 15 days for semi-mature cheese and over 60 days for mature cheese.

What Is Remedou Cheese?

Remedou is a hard cheese made from cow's milk, originating from the Land of Herve in Belgium. It has a fat content of 40% and is known for its strong, stinky aroma, which may be off-putting to some but enticing to others. The cheese presents a yellow hue and offers a bold flavor that matches its potent smell. While it might not be for everyone, those who appreciate strong cheeses often find Remedou's taste rewarding. It's best enjoyed by those who can handle its intense aroma and relish its rich taste.

What's the Difference Between Queso de Flor de Guía and Remedou Cheese?

• Milk type: Queso de Flor de Guía (Sheep (Canary Island breed), with up to 40% cow and 10% goat milk), Remedou Cheese (cow's milk)
• Texture: Queso de Flor de Guía (Dense, compact, pasty), Remedou Cheese (hard)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Queso de Flor de Guía Taste Like Remedou Cheese?

Their flavor profiles are distinct. On the nose, Queso de Flor de Guía offers medium intensity, with lactic and vegetal notes, contrasted with Remedou Cheese's stinky, strong.

Can You Substitute Queso de Flor de Guía for Remedou Cheese?

Queso de Flor de Guía can stand in for Remedou Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect dense, compact, pasty bite and body where the recipe calls for hard.

Which Is Better, Queso de Flor de Guía or Remedou Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a dense, compact, pasty cheese, go with Queso de Flor de Guía. For a hard profile, Remedou Cheese is the better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Queso de Flor de Guía the same as Remedou Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Queso de Flor de Guía is made from cow, goat, and sheep milk; Remedou Cheese uses cow.

Is Queso de Flor de Guía similar to Remedou Cheese?

Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.

Can I substitute Queso de Flor de Guía for Remedou Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.

Does Queso de Flor de Guía taste like Remedou Cheese?

They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.

What is Queso de Flor de Guía made of?

Queso de Flor de Guía is made from cow, goat, and sheep milk, using vegetable (cynara cardunculus var. ferocissima, cynara scolymus) rennet. It's typically aged 15+ days (semi-mature), 60+ days (mature).

What is Remedou Cheese made of?

Remedou Cheese is made from cow milk. It originates in Belgium.

Which should I choose, Queso de Flor de Guía or Remedou Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Queso de Flor de Guía is dense, compact, pasty, while Remedou Cheese is hard.