Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese vs Urdă Cheese
Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese
Urdă Cheese
Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is a semi-soft goat-milk cheese from France, while Urdă Cheese is creamy, delicate and made from cow, goat, or sheep milk, originating in Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.
What Is Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese?
Sainte-Maure de Touraine is an unpasteurized goat cheese from the Touraine province of France, sold as a small ash-rolled log with a straw running through its centre. The straw carries the AOC seal and a number identifying the producer.
What Is Urdă Cheese?
Urdă is a whey cheese made across Southeast Europe and in Hungary by boiling the whey drained from other cheeses. The paste is finely grained and silky, and most of it ends up in desserts and filled pastries.
What's the Difference Between Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese and Urdă Cheese?
- Origin: Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (France), Urdă Cheese (Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine)
- Milk type: Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (goat’s milk), Urdă Cheese (cow's, goat's or sheep's milk)
- Milk treatment: Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Raw), Urdă Cheese (unpasteurized)
- Texture: Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (semi-soft), Urdă Cheese (Creamy, delicate)
- Rind: Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Gray-blue), Urdă Cheese (Yellowish)
- Aging: Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese (Minimum of ten days), Urdă Cheese (Up to 360 days)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese | Urdă Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia And Ukraine |
| Specific Origin | Indre-Et-Loire And Bordering Cantons | North Pindos, Konitsa |
| Milk Type | Goat’s milk | Cow's, goat's or sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Unpasteurized |
| Texture | Semi-soft | Creamy, delicate |
| Rind | Gray-blue | Yellowish |
| Aging | Minimum of ten days | Up to 360 days |
| Taste | — | High quality |
Taste Comparison: Does Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese Taste Like Urdă Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese at minimum of ten days develops a different profile than Urdă Cheese at up to 360 days.
Can You Substitute Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese for Urdă Cheese?
Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese can stand in for Urdă Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect semi-soft bite and body where the recipe calls for creamy, delicate.
Which Is Better, Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese or Urdă Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semi-soft cheese, go with Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese. For a creamy, delicate profile, Urdă Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese the same as Urdă Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese originates in France, while Urdă Cheese comes from Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine. Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is made from goat milk; Urdă Cheese uses cow, goat, or sheep. Aging also differs: Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is typically aged minimum of ten days, Urdă Cheese up to 360 days.
Is Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese similar to Urdă Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese for Urdă Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese taste like Urdă Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese made of?
Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is made from goat milk (raw). It's typically aged minimum of ten days. It originates in France.
What is Urdă Cheese made of?
Urdă Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (unpasteurized). It's typically aged up to 360 days. It originates in Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.
Which should I choose, Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese or Urdă Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Sainte-Maure de Touraine Cheese is semi-soft, while Urdă Cheese is creamy, delicate.