Cheese Database

Emmental vs L'Etivaz

Emmental, field guide plate
Emmental, photographed

Emmental

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Hard
Type
Pressed
Rind
Natural rind
Country
Switzerland
Place
Emmental
Status
AOP

Emmental is the Swiss cow's-milk cheese with large holes, from the Emmental valley in the canton of Bern. The holes are eyes, made by gas during aging. The Swiss cheese is protected.

L'Etivaz

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Hard
Type
Pressed
Rind
Natural rind
Country
Switzerland
Place
Vaud

L'Etivaz is a hard cow's milk cheese from Switzerland, made in the alpine style that sits near Gruyere. The wheels are large, with a natural rind and a dense pale paste that melts and grates well. The flavor is nutty, fruity, and savory, often a little fuller than a mild alpine cheese because of the way the milk is heated. It is a cooking cheese and a board cheese. It is not a fresh cheese, and it is not a blue.