Emmental Cheese vs Tomme Cheese

Emmental Cheese is a hard or medium-hard cow-milk cheese from Switzerland, while Tomme Cheese is creamy, pliable and made from cow, goat, or sheep milk, originating in France and Switzerland.

What Is Emmental Cheese?

Emmental is a yellow, medium-hard Swiss cheese from the Emme Valley, known for the natural holes that run through it. The taste is savoury but mild. It is eaten cold in chunks or slices and melted into dishes such as gratins.

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 Emmental Cheese and Tomme Cheese?

• Origin: Emmental Cheese (Switzerland), Tomme Cheese (France and Switzerland)
• Milk type: Emmental Cheese (cow's milk), Tomme Cheese (cow's, goat's or sheep's milk)
• Milk treatment: Emmental Cheese (Raw), Tomme Cheese (pasteurized or unpasteurized)
• Texture: Emmental Cheese (Hard or medium-hard), Tomme Cheese (Creamy, pliable)
• Rind: Emmental Cheese (natural), Tomme Cheese (Grayish natural)
• Taste: Emmental Cheese (Nutty, sweet), Tomme Cheese (Varied)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Emmental Cheese Taste Like Tomme Cheese?

Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Tomme Cheese brings varied character. More specifically, Emmental Cheese shows characterized by its holes ("eyes"), sweet and slightly rubbery, crystalline when aged, while Tomme Cheese leans toward no common profile; wide variety depending on milk and aging.

Can You Substitute Emmental Cheese for Tomme Cheese?

Emmental Cheese can stand in for Tomme Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect hard or medium-hard bite and body where the recipe calls for creamy, pliable. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet while Tomme Cheese brings varied notes.

Which Is Better, Emmental Cheese or Tomme Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a hard or medium-hard cheese, go with Emmental Cheese. For a creamy, pliable profile, Tomme Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, sweet notes, while Tomme Cheese fits dishes calling for varied.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Emmental Cheese the same as Tomme Cheese?

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

Is Emmental Cheese similar to Tomme Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Emmental Cheese for Tomme Cheese?

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

Does Emmental Cheese taste like Tomme Cheese?

Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Tomme Cheese is varied.

What is Emmental Cheese made of?

Emmental Cheese is made from cow milk (raw). It's typically aged 4 months to over 1 year. It originates in Switzerland.

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, Emmental Cheese or Tomme Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Emmental Cheese is hard or medium-hard, while Tomme Cheese is creamy, pliable.