Red Leicester Cheese vs Manchego Cheese

In this article, we’ll explore the answers to the most common questions about Red Leicester Cheese and Manchego Cheese, including:

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

Red Leicester Cheese Overview

Red Leicester is a traditional English cheese made from cow's milk, similar to cheddar but with a more moist, crumblier texture and a milder flavor. It's notable for its vibrant orange color, achieved by adding annatto to the milk. Aged Red Leicester develops a slightly nutty taste, making it a favorite for cheese platters and grating over dishes.

Manchego Cheese Overview

Manchego is a PDO-protected cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain, exclusively from the milk of Manchega sheep. It has a firm and compact consistency and a buttery texture, with a distinctive flavor that is well-developed and tangy, often with a slight piquancy in older cheeses. Manchego is aged for a minimum of two months and up to two years, developing a deeper flavor and harder texture with time.

Comparing the Two Cheeses

Ranking

Red Leicester is ranked #71 out of 377 types.

Manchego is ranked #34 out of 377 types.

Country of Origin

Red Leicester Cheese comes from United Kingdom. Manchego Cheese originated from Spain.

Certification

Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Red Leicester is not a protected cheese. Manchego Cheese has a PDO (1984).

Milk Type and Treatment

Red Leicester Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically pasteurized or unpasteurized. Manchego Cheese is made with sheep milk that is typically raw or pasteurized.

Composition and Texture

Red Leicester Cheese has a fat content of high and a moisture content of medium. Red Leicester's texture can be described as "hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly". Manchego's texture can be described as "compact".

Flavor and Aroma

Red Leicester's aroma can be described as "mild". Manchego Cheese has a slightly acidic flavor.

Appearance and Aging

Red Leicester Cheese's appearance is colored reddish-orange , is available in traditional cylindrical, industrial block and is aged 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial . Manchego Cheese has a color of white to yellowish ivory , comes in cylindrical with flat faces and has an aging period of fresco (2 weeks), semi-curado (3 weeks to 4 months), curado (3-6 months), viejo or anejo (1 year) .

Rind and Rennet Type

Red Leicester Cheese's rind is described as clothbound (sparkenhoe farm), plastic (industrial) and uses animal rennet. Manchego Cheese's rind is described as pleita and flor imprints , with animal rennet.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Compare Red Leicester Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Manchego Cheese to Other Cheeses