Cheese Database

P'tit Basque vs Idiazábal

P'tit Basque

Facts

Milk
Sheep
Texture
Semi-hard
Type
Pressed
Rind
Natural rind
Country
France
Place
Pyrenees

P'tit Basque is a small sheep's milk cheese from the Pyrenees in France. The milk is pasteurized, and the wheels stay modest in size, which makes them easy to cut for a board. The paste is smooth and medium firm, with a pale ivory color and a mild sheep aroma. A thin brown rind shows a basket-weave mark from the mould. It is a Basque-style cheese made for everyday eating rather than long cellar aging.

Idiazábal

Facts

Milk
Sheep
Texture
Hard
Type
Pressed
Rind
Natural rind
Country
Spain
Place
Basque Country and Navarre
Status
PDO

Idiazábal is a pressed sheep's-milk cheese from the Basque Country and Navarre, and a protected name. The milk comes from Latxa or Carranzana sheep. Many wheels are lightly smoked.