Noord Hollander Gouda
- Pasteurized
- Animal Rennet
- Age: 3-4 Years
- Cow Milk
- The Netherlands
- ApproachableAdventurous
- SoftHard
Noord Hollander Gouda is matured for four years, making it one of our longest-aged cheeses. But this authentic Dutch gouda retains a surprising creaminess for its age, as well as a savory snackability. While there’s some of the traditional sweet gouda flavors—caramel corn and hazelnut—every bite is balanced by strong umami notes with the salty depth of soy sauce. Highlight the sweetness by pairing with Wildwood Chocolate’s Orange Confit & Cherry bar, or make a savory bite with Z Crackers Everything Good.
“Goudas can be a little sweet for my liking; that is, until I met this cheese! I served it with baklava for dessert and it provided such a good salty balance with all the nuts and honey.”
- Noord Hollander Gouda is a PDO cheese, meaning it was granted Protected Designation of Origin status by the EU.
- The cheese must be produced in a specific region and made according to a set of strict regulations meant to protect the integrity and tradition of the cheese.
- Noord Hollander can only be produced in Noord-Holland, a region in the North of the Netherlands.
- The land here is rich in minerals and clay thanks to the nearby sea, producing lush grass for cows to graze on. This means their milk is rich and sweet.
- Most goudas tend to be on the sweet side for cheese, thanks to the step of washing the curds during the cheesemaking process.
- By flushing the curds with fresh water, the cheesemaker clears away residual lactic acid from the fermentation process, reducing the acidity and letting the milky sweetness shine.
- This gouda is aged for four years to develop a crumbly texture and robust yet approachable flavor.
- While Noord Hollander does crumble like most long-aged cheeses, it’s surprisingly creamy on the palate—creamier than Roomano, for example, which is aged one year less.
- The crystalline crunch comes from tyrosine, an amino acid that forms white crystals in the interior paste of some aged cheeses.
When you receive your cheese, unpack the order and refrigerate the items. We recommend using the cheese paper we send most of our products in to store the cheese. The cheese paper helps cover the items and stop them from drying out, while also allowing the cheese to breathe. Since cheese is mold, it's a living thing! If you cut off air circulation to the cheese, you can actually cause it to suffocate and spoil at a faster rate.
