Maasdam cheese () is an
Emmental-style Dutch cheese. Made from
cow's milk
Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of lactating mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digest solid food. Milk contains many nutr ...
, it is aged for at least four weeks. It ripens faster than other cheeses made in the Netherlands. Maasdam has
internal voids, or holes from the ripening process,
and a smooth, yellow rind. Sometimes, it is waxed like
Gouda. The cheese was created to compete with Swiss Emmentaler cheeses by being less expensive and quicker to produce. In the process of making a cheese with the same general components as Swiss cheeses, the Dutch ended up with a cheese that is nutty and sweet, but softer than Emmental, due to a higher moisture content.
The style was introduced in 1984 by the Baars company as the trademarked
Leerdammer cheese, although it is now made by other Dutch companies under the name ''Maasdammer''. That name was selected to honor the village of
Maasdam in the province of South Holland.
See also
*
*
References
Dutch cheeses
Cow's-milk cheeses
Cheese with eyes
{{cheese-stub