Red Leicester Cheese vs Tomme Cheese

Red Leicester Cheese is a hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly cow-milk cheese from United Kingdom, while Tomme Cheese is creamy, pliable and made from cow, goat, or sheep milk, originating in France and Switzerland.

What Is Red Leicester Cheese?

Red Leicester is an English cow's milk cheese from Leicestershire, close to Cheddar but crumblier. Annatto gives it its orange colour, and four to nine months of ageing takes it from mild and mellow to tangy and slightly nutty.

What Is Tomme Cheese?

Tomme is a class of cheese made mainly in the French Alps and in Switzerland from cow's, ewe's or goat's milk. Most are made from skimmed milk left over from butter making, so they are generally low in fat, and each variety is named for where it comes from.

What's the Difference Between Red Leicester Cheese and Tomme Cheese?

• Origin: Red Leicester Cheese (United Kingdom), Tomme Cheese (France and Switzerland)
• Milk type: Red Leicester Cheese (cow's milk), Tomme Cheese (cow's, goat's or sheep's milk)
• Texture: Red Leicester Cheese (Hard, similar to Cheddar but more moist, crumbly), Tomme Cheese (Creamy, pliable)
• Rind: Red Leicester Cheese (Clothbound (Sparkenhoe Farm), Plastic (industrial)), Tomme Cheese (Grayish natural)
• Taste: Red Leicester Cheese (caramel, sweet), Tomme Cheese (Varied)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Red Leicester Cheese Taste Like Tomme Cheese?

Red Leicester Cheese reads as caramel, sweet, while Tomme Cheese brings varied character. On the nose, Red Leicester Cheese offers mild, contrasted with Tomme Cheese's milky. More specifically, Red Leicester Cheese shows mild and mellow when young, stronger and tangier with age, slightly nutty with a sweet aftertaste, while Tomme Cheese leans toward no common profile; wide variety depending on milk and aging.

Can You Substitute Red Leicester Cheese for Tomme Cheese?

Red Leicester Cheese can stand in for Tomme Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly bite and body where the recipe calls for creamy, pliable. Flavor-wise, Red Leicester Cheese reads as caramel, sweet while Tomme Cheese brings varied notes.

Which Is Better, Red Leicester Cheese or Tomme Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly cheese, go with Red Leicester Cheese. For a creamy, pliable profile, Tomme Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Red Leicester Cheese suits recipes that want caramel, sweet notes, while Tomme Cheese fits dishes calling for varied.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Red Leicester Cheese the same as Tomme Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Red Leicester Cheese originates in United Kingdom, while Tomme Cheese comes from France and Switzerland. Red Leicester Cheese is made from cow milk; Tomme Cheese uses cow, goat, or sheep.

Is Red Leicester Cheese similar to Tomme Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Red Leicester Cheese for Tomme Cheese?

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

Does Red Leicester Cheese taste like Tomme Cheese?

Red Leicester Cheese reads as caramel, sweet, while Tomme Cheese is varied. Aromas also diverge. Red Leicester Cheese leans mild, and Tomme Cheese is closer to milky.

What is Red Leicester Cheese made of?

Red Leicester Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized (sparkenhoe farm), pasteurized (others)), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial. It originates in United Kingdom.

What is Tomme Cheese made of?

Tomme Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (pasteurized or unpasteurized). It originates in France and Switzerland.

Which should I choose, Red Leicester Cheese or Tomme Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Red Leicester Cheese is hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly, while Tomme Cheese is creamy, pliable.