Cheese "Gouda" is rightfully the pride of the Dutch town of the same name, where it began to be made in the XIV century. Several centuries later, this delicious product became known throughout Europe. Today it is produced in various countries, but it does not always meet quality standards and is a real Gouda cheese.
Production of Gouda cheese
Gouda cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk, sourdough and rennet. Some types add caraway seeds and various dried herbs. At the same time, there can be no question of any chemical additives. After the brine, the cheese mass is dried for some time, and then left to ripen in a special room, where the air humidity is from 80 to 90%, and the temperature regime is 12-15 ° C above zero.
Real Gouda cheese comes in young, medium and ripe. The difference between these three types is the cheese aging time. The first, for example, ripens within a few weeks, while the mature takes about a year. The finished cheese, which is produced in 20 kg, 4.5 kg and 500 g heads, is usually filled with paraffin. Such packaging fully preserves all the taste qualities of the product.
The Dutch Master is considered the most savory of all mature Gouda cheeses. It is aged for almost a year and has a unique tart taste and aroma.
What is real Gouda cheese?
True Gouda cheese necessarily has a firm consistency and a uniform yellowish color, the shade of which depends on the degree of maturity of the product. Young cheese is characterized by a white-yellow color, while mature cheese has a soft yellow-orange hue. It is better not to buy a product whose color is different in places, since it was prepared either in violation of the technology, or from low-quality products.
The cheese varieties also taste slightly different. A young product will always have a mild creamy flavor with subtle nutty notes, while a mature product will be more astringent. Nevertheless, having tasted Gouda cheese once, it will not be difficult to distinguish it from other types of cheese. But the notes of bitterness in this product will already indicate the deterioration of the cheese, as well as a moldy smell and a heavily weathered crust.
Choosing Gouda cheese, you should pay attention to the type of holes in it. They must necessarily have an even shape and be at least 1 cm from the edge. Otherwise, you can buy a cheese product that was made from milk replacer or protein concentrate. Such a fake will not only disappoint with its taste, but can also be hazardous to health.
Real Gouda cheese is extremely healthy because it contains minerals, vitamins and essential amino acids.
The integrity of the packaging of the Gouda cheese is also of great importance. To insure yourself against counterfeiting, it is better to purchase pieces that the seller cuts off the cheese circle right in front of your eyes. Thus, you can assess the quality of the paraffin packaging, which must be intact, without cracks and mold.
