Edam ( nl, Edammer, ) is a
semi-hard cheese that originated in the Netherlands, and is named after the town of
Edam in the province of
North Holland. Edam is traditionally sold in flat-ended spheres with a pale yellow interior and a coat, or rind, of red
paraffin wax
Paraffin wax (or petroleum wax) is a soft colorless solid derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale that consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules containing between 20 and 40 carbon atoms. It is solid at room temperature and begins to ...
. Edam ages and travels well, and does not spoil; it only hardens. These qualities (among others) made it the world's most popular cheese between the 14th and 18th centuries, both at sea and in remote colonies.
[History of Edam Cheese](_blank)
Edam.com. Retrieved 11 April 2007
Content
Most "young" Edam cheese sold in stores has a very mild flavour, slightly salty or nutty, and almost no smell when compared to other cheeses. As the cheese ages, its flavour sharpens, and it becomes firmer.
Edam may have as little as 28%
fat in dry matter. Modern Edam is softer than other cheeses, such as
Cheddar cheese, due to its low fat content.
Accompaniments
Mild Edam goes well with fruit such as peaches, melons,
apricots, and cherries. Aged Edam is often eaten with traditional "cheese fruits" like
pear
Pears are fruits produced and consumed around the world, growing on a tree and harvested in the Northern Hemisphere in late summer into October. The pear tree and shrub are a species of genus ''Pyrus'' , in the family Rosaceae, bearing the po ...
s and apples. Like most cheeses, it is commonly eaten on
crackers and bread, and may be eaten with crackers following the main course of a meal as a dessert of "cheese and
biscuits".
Pinot gris
Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio (, ) or Grauburgunder is a white wine grape variety of the species ''Vitis vinifera''. Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot Noir variety, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name, but the gra ...
,
dry Riesling
Riesling (, ; ) is a white grape variety that originated in the Rhine region. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet, and sparkling wh ...
, semidry Riesling, sparkling wine,
Chardonnay, and
Shiraz/Syrah are some recommended wines to accompany this cheese.
Regional uses
Spain and former colonies
In Spain and some of its former colonies, such as the Philippines and many Latin American countries, the cheese is known as ''queso de bola'' (ball cheese) and was long considered a delicacy.
In the Mexican state of
Yucatán
Yucatán (, also , , ; yua, Yúukatan ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Yucatán,; yua, link=no, Xóot' Noj Lu'umil Yúukatan. is one of the 31 states which comprise the federal entities of Mexico. It comprises 106 separate mun ...
, ''queso de bola'' is prepared as ''queso relleno'' ("stuffed cheese"). A ball of cheese is cut in half and carved out; it is then stuffed with a mixture of seasoned ground meat, raisins, capers, and olives. Finally, it is braised in chicken stock, and served sliced with the chicken stock that has been thickened with cornstarch and spiced tomato sauce.
Czech Republic & Slovakia
It is the most common cheese used in the Czech Republic (usually sold under name ''eidam'') and also very often used as base of the snack
smažený sýr ("fried cheese"), which is popular in the country and also in neighbouring
Slovakia
Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...
( sk, vyprážaný syr) where it may be served with a slice of ham ( sk, so šunkou), and always with
tartar sauce
Tartar sauce (French: ''sauce tartare''; spelled tartare sauce in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, South Africa) is a condiment made of mayonnaise, chopped pickles and/or relish, capers, and herbs such as tarragon and dill. Tart ...
(''tatárska omáčka'') or
mayonnaise.
Belize
In
Belize
Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wate ...
, where it was once one of the few commercially available cheeses, it may also be known as ''queso de calavera'' or ''queso de colorado'', and usually eaten when well-aged and sharp, commonly with bread and coffee.
Indonesia
In Indonesia, Edam cheese is quite popular—due to historical ties with the Netherlands—and is known as ''keju edam''. Generally it is Edam cheese that is used for cooking ''
kaasstengels'' that is served during
Eid ul-Fitr,
Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...
, and Chinese New Year. Other
Indonesian dishes such as ''roti bakar'', ''
kue cubit'' and ''
pannenkoek'' can be served with Edam cheese as topping.
Philippines
In the Philippines, ''queso de bola'' (sometimes spelled ''keso de bola'') is popular during
Christmas in the Philippines
Christmas in the Philippines ( fil, Pasko sa Pilipinas) is one of the biggest holidays in the country. The Philippines, one of the two predominantly Catholic countries in Asia (the other one being East Timor), celebrates the world's longest ...
, when Filipinos feast with family and friends. It is customarily served with ''jamón'' and ''pandesal'' during the
''Noche Buena'', the traditional feast taken around midnight of
Christmas Eve and lasting until the early hours of
Christmas Day
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, ...
.
Scandinavia
The cheese is also associated with Christmas in Sweden and Norway due to its red color, and is often found on the Christmas ''
Julbord'' buffet.
In popular culture
Edam has been treated dramatically and humorously in a variety of cultural art forms. In the novel ''
All Quiet on the Western Front'', the main character believes its red outer covering is a sign of impending death. It is a wine aroma nuance in ''
Sideways
''Sideways'' is a 2004 American comedy-drama road film directed by Alexander Payne and written by Jim Taylor and Payne. A film adaptation of Rex Pickett's 2004 novel of the same name, ''Sideways'' follows two men in their forties, Miles Raymo ...
''
and an object of desire in the animated film ''
Shopper 13''. Edam is a seriocomic pivot in the Australian film ''
Three Dollars
''Three Dollars'' is a 2005 Australian film directed by Robert Connolly and starring David Wenham, Sarah Wynter, and Frances O'Connor. It was based on a 1998 novel of the same name by Elliot Perlman. It won the 2005 Australian Film Institute ...
''. Actor
Jason Flemyng
Jason Iain Flemyng''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com (born 25 September 1966) is an English actor. He is known for roles in British films such as ''Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'' (1998) ...
advertised Edam in the
UK.
[Lloyd, Dan (8 August 2008]
Jason Flemyng:I'm sexy if you like gingers
'' The Mirror''. Retrieved 15 February 2010. Edam was tested by ''
MythBusters'' in episode 128
for its putative suitability as cannon ammunition against a ship's sail, but it bounced off the sail without damaging it.
See also
*
List of cheeses
This is a list of cheeses by place of origin. Cheese is a milk-based food that is produced in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms. Hundreds of types of cheese from various countries are produced. Their styles, textures and flavors dep ...
*
Babybel
Mini Babybel () is a brand of small snack cheese products that are individually packaged and available in various flavours. It is a product of Le Groupe Bel (), a company with roots in the Jura region of France, started by Jules Bel in 1865. ...
*
Molbo
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edam (cheese)
Dutch cheeses
Cow's-milk cheeses
Culture of North Holland
Edam-Volendam