Maasdam is a traditional, semi-hard Dutch cheese made from cows milk. The most characteristic feature is its ‘eyes’ (holes) that make up most of the cheese. The cheese was created in 1984 as an alternative to more expensive Swiss Emmental cheese. It is a high-fat cheese with a minimum of 45% fat. Although similar to Emmental, the moisture content in Maasdam is more, making it suppler. Nearly 15% of Dutch cheese production is made up of Maasdam.
It ripens faster than other Dutch cheeses, being ready in four to 12 weeks. The outside shell of the cheese has smooth, waxed yellow or naturally polished rind similar to Gouda. Inside the pate is a semi-firm, pale yellow with big eyes. It has a creamy texture and a sweet, buttery, nutty taste with a fruity background. If eaten young, it tastes delectable with a sandwich or as a snack. Satiate your taste buds by melting the cheese on casseroles, soups or fondues.
Maasdam cheese has all of the traits of Leerdammer cheese except for the brand name, which resides exclusively with Le Groupe Bel. It pairs well with White Zinfandel, Lager, Pale Ale, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chianti.
- Made from cows milk
- Country of origin: Netherlands
- Region: All Holland
- Alternative spellings: Maasdammer
- Type: semi-hard
- Fat content: 45%
- Texture: creamy, open and supple
- Rind: waxed
- Color: pale yellow
Source: http://www.cheese.com/maasdam/
There's not that much actual cheese then. Is that really a bargain then TA? :p