Cheese Database

Fontina vs Formai de Mut dell'Alta Valle Brembana

Fontina, field guide plate
Fontina, photographed

Fontina

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Semi-soft
Type
Pressed
Rind
Washed rind
Country
Italy
Place
Aosta Valley
Status
PDO

Fontina Val d'Aosta is a cow's-milk cheese from the Aosta Valley, and a protected cheese. The rind is washed. The paste is elastic and smells of the cellar.

Formai de Mut dell'Alta Valle Brembana

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Semi-hard
Type
Pressed
Rind
Natural rind
Country
Italy
Place
Brembana Valley

Formai de Mut dell'Alta Valle Brembana is a semi-hard cow's milk cheese from the Brembana Valley in Italy. The dialect name means mountain cheese, and the full name ties it to the upper valley. Whole cow's milk is set into wheels with a thin natural rind and a compact, elastic paste. Small eyes are scattered through the ivory to straw interior. Young wheels are table cheeses, and older wheels grow stronger and more useful in hot dishes.