Updated on November 11th, 2022
So, what does goat cheese taste like? You might wonder how the cheese can be so delicious, and the answer is somewhat surprising. It’s similar to parmesan, which is salty, tangy, acidic, and aromatic, with a soft and crumbly texture. You can also try Emmental, a sheep’s milk cheese, which has a mild, sweet flavor and is similar to goat’s.
The flavor of goat cheese is strongly influenced by its terroir and the length of maturation, which is evident in the distinct differences in taste. Tomme de Chevre, for example, is a creamy, fruity cheese, while Garrotxa is a semi-soft cheese. Brabander, on the other hand, has a salted caramel and butterscotch flavor. The key to distinguishing between different varieties of goat cheese is the composition of fatty acids, which contribute to the distinctive flavor of goat cheese.
What Is Goat Cheese?
In several ways, goat cheese differs from cow’s milk cheeses. Due to a lower amount of casein, a milk protein that becomes firm when combined with substances like acid or rennet that cause curdling, it’s generally softer than cow’s milk cheese. Because goat cheese is high in caproic, caprylic, and capric acids—medium-chain fatty acids that also contribute to its distinct goaty aroma—it has more fat and a tangier flavor than cow’s milk cheese.
Goat cheese is white in color, and as it ages, it turns slightly yellow. Goat’s milk contains nearly as much lactose as cow’s milk, but the fat molecules are smaller, which may explain why lactose-intolerant people find goat’s milk products more accessible to digest than cow’s milk. It softens rather than melts when heated.
What Does Goat Cheese Taste Like?
A typical goat cheese has a sharp, bitter, and pungent flavor. It’s made with milk from a dairy goat and is often earthy or tart. While the cheese is low in fat and has a distinctly gamey flavor, it doesn’t have the strong, nutty, or smoky flavor that many kinds of cheese have. As with any food, personal preferences can affect how goat-derived products taste.
Goat cheese is available in various styles, and it can be fresh, aged, or even smoked. The flavor and texture of goat cheese are incredibly versatile and vary from one region to another. Its sharp, tangy, and earthy nuances make it a great cheese to serve with meats.
The flavor and aroma of goat cheese differ widely between types and regions. The terroir, geographic location, and the time of maturation of the cheese affect the flavor and smell of the cheese. Goat cheese flavor and aroma vary significantly from region to region. The terroir of the region where the cheese is produced is crucial in its taste, and the terroir of a country can determine the fatty acids found in goat milk. Some goat cheeses are fruity, while others have a rich, buttery flavor. However, most goat cheeses share a familiar flavor unique to their location.
What Are The Types Of Goat Cheese?
Like cheese made from cow or sheep’s milk, Goats’ cheese is prized for its versatility, and its seemingly limitless flavor palette allows it to create complex profiles and a diverse range of cheeses.
CHÈVRE
Chèvre is a traditional French goats’ cheese rather than a specific cheese. The French word “chevre” refers to the female goat. The cheese is made from goat’s milk and is commonly used as an unripe soft cheese. The cheese is typically pristine white and rindless and has a sour, tangy, and sweet flavor. Its delicate texture and mild flavor make it ideal for snacking or dipping. But there are some caveats. If you’re allergic to milk, consult with your doctor before consuming it. There are many different types, including various ages, molds, and rinds. New variants are bold and vibrant, and they’re usually consumed within a few days of production.
GOATS’ CHEESES WITH A WHITE MOLD
White mold goats’ cheeses (Goat Brie or Castello White with Goat’s Milk) offer a fresh take on old favorites. The tang of goat’s milk softens as it ages, revealing subtle hints of rural mushroom and rich cream.
CHEESE IN THE COLOR OF BLUE
Blue mold cheese made with goat’s milk has a clean and sharp aroma that evokes fresh blue mold and hints of earthy mushrooms. The blue veins cover their ivory-colored center, extending piquancy like overgrown forage. The texture is silky and creamy, giving it a distinct flavor. Honey, sliced pear, and walnuts go well together.
What’s The Difference Between Goat & Cow Milk Cheese?
The fact that goat and cow cheese come from two different animals is the most obvious distinction. Aside from that, there are three significant differences:
- Cow’s milk cheese is much more widely available in terms of availability. Cow’s milk is cheap and mass-produced, whereas goat’s milk is locally made in small batches.
- Cow’s milk is famous for cheesemaking because of its mild, neutral flavor and more cohesive protein structure. Compared to cow’s milk cheese, goat cheese is softer and tangier.
- Goat milk has a slightly higher fat and mineral content than cow milk and less lactose, vitamin D, and riboflavin. Cow’s milk has larger fat molecules than goat’s milk, making it more difficult to digest and a thicker mouthfeel. Because goat’s milk cheese has smaller fat molecules and less lactose than cow’s milk cheese, it may be suitable for lactose-intolerant people.
What’s The Distinction Between Feta And Goat Cheese?
The misconception that feta cheese is widespread is a type of goat cheese, which isn’t correct. However, a closer examination of the milk sources used to make these cheeses reveals why many people believe this. Feta and goat cheeses differ in composition and flavor, and both are delicious and contain certain nutrients that are beneficial to your health.
Milk Types Applied
The most significant distinction between feta and goat cheese is the type of milk used. Sheep’s milk can be used to make feta cheese entirely, and it may contain a small amount of goat milk in some cases. It should not account for more than 30% of the final product if goat milk is used, and the cheese will no longer be classified as Feta if more is used. On the other hand, Goat cheese is made entirely of goat milk and contains no sheep milk.
Nutrients Come in a Variety of Forms
Feta cheese is known to contain certain types of beneficial bacteria that can kill harmful Listeria bacteria. The high protein content of goat cheese is well-known. Goat cheese is higher in calories, and saturated fat than feta cheese, and Feta has a higher cholesterol, sodium, and carbohydrate content than other cheeses. The nutritional differences aren’t huge, but they’re significant nonetheless.
Price Points
In previous years, feta cheese was easier than goat cheese, and as a result, it was less expensive than its competitor. Goat cheese has become more widely available over time, and its price has dropped significantly. In many parts of the world, goat cheese is still more expensive than Feta, even though cheese prices are nearly equal.
Is Goat Cheese Lactose-Free?
The lactose content of goat’s milk is slightly lower than cow’s milk, and it’s debatable whether the amount of lactose in goat’s milk is low enough to make it easier to digest for people who have lactose intolerance.
There’s another reason goat’s milk is easier to digest than cow’s milk, and it has nothing to do with lactose. Because goat’s milk is naturally homogenized, the fat globules are small and stay suspended in the milk rather than separating. This makes it easier for humans to digest the milk. The fat globules in cow’s milk are large enough to be challenging to digest.
It’s important to remember that many types of cheese, whether made with goat, cow, or sheep’s milk, are naturally low in lactose or have non-measurable amounts of lactose.
Where Can We Use Goat Cheese?
Its low-fat content makes it a perfect salad topping, and it complements a wide range of dishes, including cured meats, honey, fruit, Toast with bacon, avocado, and goat cheese.
Sweet winter treats like beets and pears shine in this colorful seasonal salad. Goat Cheese Pasta Grilled Chicken with Goat Cheese Sauce.
Conclusion
The primary differences between goat cheese and cow milk can be overwhelming, but that’s okay because goat milk is very similar to cow milk. Its fatty acid content is the difference. A slice of typical fresh goat cheese will have a soft buttery texture, while a fresh one will have a sour and grainy texture. This is the difference between raw and aged goat cheese. You’ll want to try the freshest, ripest-yo-goat-cheese.
If you’re not a cheese lover, you might be surprised by what goat cheese tastes like. Its unique texture and pungent flavor can be a turn-off. In contrast to cow milk, goat’s milk cheese is firm and does not melt, and its texture is soft and crumbly and is best used in cooked dishes. You’ll also find goat cheese in sour cream, and some people prefer this over cow milk.
