Articles

Featured Cheese for May 2008: Wisconsin Gouda

A semi-hard cheese, Gouda is made with whole milk and has a rich, buttery and slightly sweet flavor and a smooth, creamy texture.

Taking its name from a village in southern Holland, Gouda dates back to the Middle Ages and was exported to other countries as early as the 13th century. In the early days of Dutch Cheesemaking, Gouda was wrapped for export in red cloth to identify the variety. Today, Wisconsin producers carry on the tradition by covering the cheese with red wax or poly film.

A semi-hard cheese, Gouda is made with whole milk and has a rich, buttery and slightly sweet flavor and a smooth, creamy texture. This sweet curd cheese is similar to Edam except that it contains more milkfat, which gives it a creamier texture and causes it to become more buttery and slightly nutty with age.

Wisconsin cheesemakers offer Gouda in several varieties, including mild, aged, flavored and smoked. The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board offers the following pairing tips for the different varieties of Gouda:

• Mild Gouda: Typically found with a red wax rind, mild Gouda pairs well with fruits such as fresh peaches, cherries, sliced melon or dried apricots. Fruity wines or lager beers enhance the cheese’s slightly sweet flavor.
• Aged and flavored Gouda: Aged and flavored Goudas can be identified by a yellow or clear wax rind and are excellent with apple and pear slices. Serve with apple juice or a favorite beer to appreciate the smooth, creamy texture of the cheese.
• Smoked Gouda: Marked with black or brown wax rinds, smoked Gouda cheeses also pair well with apples and pears. Hearty red wines and most beers bring out the cheese’s rich, buttery flavor.

Gouda is ideal when served sliced for sandwiches, shredded in baked dishes, or diced in salads and vegetable dishes.

Wisconsin, known for its stunning variety of award-winning cheeses, is home to many cheesemakers crafting outstanding semi-hard cheeses. In addition to Gouda, these types include Cheddar, Colby, Edam, Swiss, Gruyère and Baby Swiss cheeses. For more Gouda or semi-hard cheese pairing tips, suggestions and recipes, visit WisDairy.com.

Featured Wisconsin Cheese Distributor

This month's featured Wisconsin Cheese distributor is Arla Foods, Inc.

Arla Foods continues the craftsmanship of one of Wisconsin’s most outstanding specialty cheesemakers, White Clover Dairy, which it purchased in 2006. The global co-op is honoring the traditions of small, local cheesemakers that date to 1897.