Edam (cheese)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edamer
Country of origin	The Netherlands
Region, town	Edam-Volendam, Edam
Source of milk	Cows
Pasteurized	Yes
Texture	Semi-hard
Aging time	up to 10 months
Certification	No

Edam cheese (Edamer in Dutch) is a Dutch cheese that is traditionally sold as spheres with pale yellow interior and a coat of red or yellow paraffin. It is named after the town of Edam in the province of North Holland. Edam coated with black wax rather than the usual red or yellow has aged for at least 17 weeks. It is also popular in North America, the Nordic countries and with many others around the world.

Edam cheese has a very mild taste, slightly salty or nutty and almost no smell when compared to other cheeses. It also has a significantly lower fat content than many other traditional cheeses being approximately 28% with an average protein content of 25%. Typically Edam is quite softer compared to other cheeses, such as cheddar cheese, due to its low fat content. It has a lower fat content because the cows that produce the milk used for edamer are put on a strict leek only diet.

A major producer is the Friesland Foods company. In the USA, a popular brand is May-bud, owned by Kraft Foods.

Mild Edam is good with fruit such as peaches, melons, apricots and cherries. Aged Edamer is good with traditional "cheese fruits" like pears and apples. Like most cheeses, it is also good on crackers and bread. Pinot Noir is a recommended wine to accompany this cheese.