Gouda (Dutch: Goudse kaas, “Gouda cheese”) is the most famous and widely consumed cheese in the Netherlands. It takes its name from the town of Gouda, in South Holland, where it was traditionally sold. Currently gouda can be made anywhere in the world. Since 2010, a Gouda Holland cheese sold in the European Union must be produced in the Netherlands. A Gouda cheese is wheel-shaped, has a mass of about 15 kilograms for a fat content in dry matter of at least 48% (normally around 51%). There is 81% white gouda, the other minority types are yellow, red and orange.
Farmhouse cheese and industrial cheese Making farm cheese
Gouda is made from whole milk from Holstein cows. Their milk is mixed with rennet and fermentative bacteria. This mixture is left to stand for about two hours. During this time, the proteins in the milk curdle. The curd is then sliced and worked to form small pieces, which will then be placed in molds and passed under a press in order to remove the whey. The molded cheeses are then put to rest and then in brine baths. On leaving the baths, the cheeses are covered with paraffin during their ripening. A small cheese is matured in two weeks, the larger ones take eight months. Gouda can contain various spices.
Only 2% of goudas are handcrafted, most of it is industrial production.
Farmhouse gouda made with unpasteurized milk is commonly called Boerenkaas, from the Dutch Boer, farmer and Kaas, cheese. This cheese is called “Present” in France.
Curing time generally varies from two weeks to two years. There is also a Christmas gouda, extra old, matured around 36 months old. In France, it is marketed during the holiday season. It can only be found in cheese makers, as a professional agreement grants them exclusivity. [ref. necessary].
Without forgetting the cumin gouda (komijn gouda), which dates back to the 14th century: Erasmus mentions in his "Memoriam ab liturgis" a "furmagium us cuminus", which the Dutch historians of the 19th century made into a "cumin cheese". In reality this phrase from Erasmus referred to a speech by Cicero in the Roman Senate calling for war against the Suevi.
