Brynza vs feta: what's the difference
Both are white brined cheeses, salty and rindless. But "brynza" is a general name for cheese made from various kinds of milk, while "feta" is a protected name for a Greek cheese with strict rules.
| 🧀 Bryndza | 🧀 Feta | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | Cow's, goat's, sheep's or buffalo milk, or a mix | Sheep's milk or a mix with goat's milk (no more than 30% goat's) |
| How it's made | A brined cheese: ripens in 18–22% brine for several days or weeks (depending on the method) | The salted curd is kept in brine (about 7% salt) for several weeks, then for at least 2 months in the cold |
| Taste and texture | Tangy, moderately salty; firm, often sturdy and slightly crumbly | Piquant and salty, from mild to sharp; soft, crumbly, slightly grainy |
| Fat content | Depends on the type of milk and the recipe | At least 43% fat in dry matter; about 21 g of fat per 100 g |
| Origin | The Carpathians; common in the Balkans, Moldova, the Caucasus and Eastern European cuisines | Mainland Greece and the island of Lesbos |
| Name status | A general name | A Protected Designation of Origin in the EU since 2002 |
Which to choose
For Greek salad and Mediterranean-style baking, use feta: it has a mild, creamy character. Brynza is usually firmer and can be saltier; you can soften its saltiness by soaking the cheese in milk or water.
Sources
Themes
🥛Types of milkFrom cow to reindeer: composition, benefits, value🧀Cheeses of the worldParmesan, feta, bryndza, sulguni and more🥣Fermented milk productsKefir, yogurt, kumis, matsoni, skyr🌍Dairy traditionsRegions, peoples and their dairy products🐄Dairy animalsWhich animals are milked and how their milk differs🚚The journey of milkFrom pasture to shop — step by step❤️Milk and healthCalcium, lactose, allergy, benefits and risks👷JobsWho works with milk🗺️Map of traditionsWorld regions, peoples and their products on a map⚖️ComparisonsKefir or yogurt, sour cream or cream, and more🍳RecipesCottage cheese, yogurt, ghee, paneer, butter — at home📜History of milkFrom domestication to Tetra Pak🫒OlivesVarieties, oil, table olives, regions and traditions