WHAT IS EDAM?
Once long ago, a semi-hard, sharp tasting farmhouse cheese was all the rage. But today Edam is an industrial cheese. Cannonball-shaped, this semi-hard cow’s milk cheese has a mildly spicy flavor and less rubbery texture then cheap gouda. The red wax is only for exports. Back home in the Netherlands they sell the same cheese coated in yellow wax.
WHERE IS EDAM MADE?
The capital “E” gives it away, this cheese is named after the northern Dutch town from which it came. When the Netherlands was sailing the seas 50o years ago, this town supplied Dutch ships with large amounts of this cheese. In addition, the slow pace at which it ripens made it ideal for long ocean trips. Today, from Europe to Wisconsin to Australia, this cheese is made all over the world.
WHAT IS CHEESE “MADE” BACKWARDS?
Edam. Did you hear about the Dutch cheese that failed to medal at the Olympics? It fell at the final curdle. What didn’t the cheese want to get sliced? It had grater plans. What did the blind man say after being handed a cheese grater? That was the most violent book I’ve ever read. How did the cheese bible start? With Edam and Eve obviously!
WHAT CAN I PAIR WITH EDAM?
Unlike gouda which uses whole milk, Edam uses partially skimmed milk giving it a slightly lower fat content. In terms of wine try dry whites or acidic Rieslings. When using in cheese plates, flights by country can include a nice aged gouda and a leyden or leerdammer cheese. If you want to mix it up, dry a nice Danish blue cheese or French tomme de savoie. Also, an aged Edam can also pair nicely with peaches, apricots or honeydew melons.