Cheese Database

Chihuahua vs Criollo cheese

Chihuahua, field guide plate
Chihuahua, photographed

Chihuahua

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Semi-hard
Type
Pressed
Rind
No rind
Country
Mexico
Place
Chihuahua

Queso Chihuahua is a semi-hard cow's-milk cheese from the state of Chihuahua, in northern Mexico. Mennonite communities there made it, so it is also called queso menonita.

Criollo cheese

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Hard
Type
Pressed
Country
Mexico

Criollo cheese is a yellow cow's milk cheese from Mexico, and it stands out because many Mexican cheeses are white. Makers use raw milk, and the finished paste is pale gold rather than bright white. A young piece is firm, mild, and salty. With age the flavor deepens, and the texture can become very hard. Cooks know it as a grating cheese, also sold as queso criollo or criolla.