Gouda cheese is an ancient cheese, in fact, the oldest cheese invented by the Dutch.Gouda cheese is the baby of the Netherlands as it was invented there contrary to its name Gouda cheese, and it is the Dutch’s dairy invention. It got the name, Gouda, which was the trade hub for this cheese and it was taken to the city and sold there.It is pronounced in different ways in different countries and is profoundly loved in various forms and stages of its processing across the world. In the United States, it is pronounced ‘goo-duh,’ whereas it is ‘ghow-duh’ in its birthplace. Typically the ‘g’ is pronounced as a ‘gh’, or it even becomes ‘hoo-duh’ in the US, where it is used in various dishes.As of present-day, only the Noord-Hollandse Gouda represents the authentic Dutch Gouda as it is made with Dutch cow’s milk.Traditionally, the Gouda cheese is extracted from the curd prepared from cow’s milk. When the curd is formed, some water from the curds is drained and prevents the formation of lactic acid. This curd is further condensed to round molds and then fluttered into a saltwater bath. These molds are set to dry and are left to age anywhere from four weeks to over a year. Generally, the cheese is coated with red or yellow wax rind and later coated with wax or plastic.This Dutch cheese is exported to Germany, Belgium, Japan, the United States, and other areas around the world. Exportation and trading of this cheese have been happening since the early 1100s.Not only is Gouda cheese tasty, but it also provides daily nutritional value.Check down below to learn more about the making, various stages, and combinations of this naturally delicious Gouda cheese.If you liked learning about Gouda, check out our articles on what do parsnips taste like? And how is blue cheese made?Does Gouda taste good?Gouda cheese has distinct flavors at its diverse stages. From sweet to buttery, it can range in any flavor, including smoked. Gouda cheese has a caramel, nutty, and creamy taste. Gouda cheese is good old or new, it just depends on how you like it. Keep reading to understand the flavor of Gouda before indulging in it or wondering what does Gouda cheese tastes like?A young Gouda is sweeter to taste, mild on your taste buds, and soft in texture. As it ages, it gives a nutty, slightly crunchy, and buttery flavor. The consistency of aged Gouda becomes dense and harder, and the cheese color darkens. The beauty of this cheese is that it can be used in various desserts, dishes, or as a side dish with wine, depending on which stage the Gouda is at. Aged Gouda of over four years is light brown.Young Gouda tastes best on crackers and sandwiches, whereas the older is great for cooking things like mac and cheese, pizzas, paninis, or pairing it with wines. It can also be added to soups to enhance the taste and create depth.Gouda cheese can be paired with any fruit. For breakfast, it can go well with fresh fruits like strawberries, apple slices, melon, and grapes. Mango and Gouda can also make an ideal pair.In Germany, the Gouda is often used to make sauces, gratins, and fondues. In the US, it is famous for macaroni and cheese dishes and pizzas. It can also be added to baked potatoes or grilled cheese. Gouda can also have pairings of light beer or light wine.To store Gouda cheese, it is ideal to leave the cheese loose in a plastic bag to breathe and to keep it in a warm area of the fridge.Types Of Gouda CheeseGouda cheese types are classified based on their aging stage.The first is the newest formed cheese that may be above four weeks. A fresh or young gouda (as young as four weeks) is called jong and an older cheese (as old as a year) is oud.The various stages of the cheese processing involved are young or new Gouda at four weeks aged. Young matured Gouda at 8-10 weeks, a matured Gouda at 16-18 weeks, extra matured Gouda at 7-8 months of aging, old or fully matured Gouda at 10-12 months, finally the very old or very aged Gouda at over 12 months.Oplegkaas is the only type of Gouda made from pasteurized cow’s milk with PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) restriction and must be aged for a minimum of two years. Boerenkaas is another artisanal Gouda cheese extracted from unpasteurized cow milk in the Netherlands with stringent production rules. Gaskaas is a few weeks’ aged Gouda cheese from pasteurized cow’s milk. Overjarig is a cheese processed for five years or more, which develops the tyrosine salt crystals of amino acids and develops a toffee-like rich flavor. There are five additional types of Gouda called Jong, Jong Belegen, Belegen, Extra Belegen, and Oud between Gaskaas (youngest) and Overjarig (oldest) based on their aging duration, the analogous firmness, and flavor of texture.Nutrition Information For Gouda CheeseYou can proudly indulge in some Gouda cheese as this cheese has many of your daily nutritional needs, not to mention it is delightful!A 3.5 oz (99 g) of Gouda cheese accounts for up to 0.88 oz (24.9 g) of daily protein, 0.95 oz (26.9 g) of fat, 70% of daily value calcium, 26% of vitamin B12, 26% of Zinc, 20% of Riboflavin (vitamin B2), 11% of vitamin A, and in addition to this 0.07 oz (1.9 g) of carbohydrate and 356 calories (0.356 kcal).Does aged Gouda taste like cheddar cheese?Like the Gouda cheese that is made in the Netherlands and is famous in Holland, this cheese is made in England.Cheddar is made similar to Gouda cheese and is also aged similarly. Hence, it tastes almost as rich as Gouda cheese.Cheddar cheese is aged from two months to two years. As the name indicates, the cheese is made from cheddaring the loaves of curd, by acidifying the curd, sticking them on one another, and leaving them to set after draining the water from the curd to draw out more whey. The texture of this cheese goes from smooth to crunchy and tends to have a hazelnut flavor. This cheese has a similar texture and density as that of the Gouda cheese. Though it is not as sweet as Gouda, cheddar is used as a substitute for Gouda as it has a buttery and hazelnutty flavor.Another substitute for Gouda cheese can be Edam cheese.Does Gouda taste like blue cheese?Blue cheese is a different kind of cheese.Though the cheese-making process is similar, blue cheese is processed by adding Penicillium to curd molds. This ingredient differentiates the taste and texture of blue cheese from others. The Penicillium is responsible for the unique flavor and the green vein-like spots in molds.The shelf life of blue cheese is less than Gouda cheese.What does smoked Gouda cheese taste like?A smoked Gouda cheese is an extended version of the old Gouda. Many may initially not like the smoky flavor.Smoked Gouda is prepared in a brick oven for a few minutes. This cooking process yields a woodsy flavor in the cheese. It also gives a sweet flavor, which is unusual in old Gouda. Smoked Gouda makes a good pair with dark beer or dark chocolate.By now, if you are convinced with our content, it is time that you grab your favorite choice of Gouda cheese and pair it with your desired accompaniment.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you like our suggestions for what does Gouda cheese taste like? Then why not take a look at where does Feta cheese come from? Or what kind of cheese is Babybel?
Gouda cheese is an ancient cheese, in fact, the oldest cheese invented by the Dutch.
