Tulum Cheese vs Wagashi Cheese

Tulum Cheese is a goat-milk cheese from Turkey, while Wagashi Cheese is compact and made from cow milk.

What Is Tulum Cheese?

Tulum is a Turkish goat's milk cheese ripened inside a goatskin casing, which is what the word tulum means in Turkish. It is made in several regions, and versions from Erzincan, İzmir, Divle, Çimi and Kargı each taste different.

What Is Wagashi Cheese?

Wagashi is a soft cow's milk cheese from northern Benin, sold in quantity in Parakou and across the West African savanna. It is mild in flavor and almost always cooked, usually in a sauce eaten with pounded yams or millet or maize pâte.

What's the Difference Between Tulum Cheese and Wagashi Cheese?

• Milk type: Tulum Cheese (goat), Wagashi Cheese (Cow’s milk)
• Milk treatment: Tulum Cheese (raw), Wagashi Cheese (Heated)
• Aging: Tulum Cheese (about 6 months), Wagashi Cheese (Fresh or dried)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Tulum Cheese Taste Like Wagashi Cheese?

Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Tulum Cheese at about 6 months develops a different profile than Wagashi Cheese at fresh or dried.

Can You Substitute Tulum Cheese for Wagashi Cheese?

Tulum Cheese can stand in for Wagashi Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe.

Which Is Better, Tulum Cheese or Wagashi Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tulum Cheese the same as Wagashi Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Tulum Cheese is made from goat milk; Wagashi Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Tulum Cheese is typically aged about 6 months, Wagashi Cheese fresh or dried.

Is Tulum Cheese similar to Wagashi Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Tulum Cheese for Wagashi Cheese?

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

Does Tulum Cheese taste like Wagashi Cheese?

They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.

What is Tulum Cheese made of?

Tulum Cheese is made from goat milk (raw). It's typically aged about 6 months. It originates in Turkey.

What is Wagashi Cheese made of?

Wagashi Cheese is made from cow milk (heated), using calotropis procera latex rennet. It's typically aged fresh or dried.

Which should I choose, Tulum Cheese or Wagashi Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.