Red Leicester Cheese vs Stilton Cheese

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

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

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

Red Leicester Cheese comes from United Kingdom. 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. Red Leicester is not a protected cheese. Stilton Cheese has a PDO (1996).

Milk Type and Treatment

Red Leicester Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically pasteurized or unpasteurized. Stilton Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically 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". Stilton's texture can be described as "hard, blue-veined".

Taste and Aroma

Red Leicester Cheese has a caramel, sweet taste. Red Leicester's aroma can be described as "mild". Stilton Cheese has a spicy, strong taste.

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 . Stilton Cheese has a color of blue-grey .

Rind and Rennet Type

Red Leicester Cheese's rind is described as clothbound (sparkenhoe farm), plastic (industrial) and uses animal rennet. Stilton Cheese's rind is described as natural .

Ranking

Red Leicester is ranked #68 out of 996 types based on community views. Stilton is ranked #25 out of 996 types based on community views.

Pairing Comparison

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

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Which One Should You Choose?

If you prefer a hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly cheese, go for Red Leicester. But if you enjoy a hard, blue-veined consistency, Stilton might be the better pick. Red Leicester has a caramel, sweet taste, making it great for various dishes. Meanwhile, Stilton offers a spicy, strong profile, ideal for different meals.

Compare Red Leicester Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Stilton Cheese to Other Cheeses