A Brief History Of Edam Cheese

During the Age of Exploration, many Dutch merchants kept their ships stocked with large quantities of Edam cheese, as it remained edible even after lengthy sea voyages. In fact, Edam matures at a much slower pace than most cheeses, and its taste remains relatively stable for a considerable amount of time, meaning that the cheese became a common sight in many Dutch colonies and was eventually added to other European traders’ inventories.

Due to its extremely versatile nature, Edam found its way into many international cuisines and is often treated as a delicacy. In Mexico, for example, people living in the state of Yucatán cut balls of Edam in half and then stuff it with meat and seasonings in order to create a spicy dish called queso relleno, which is served with a chicken stock. Edam is also extremely popular in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where it is battered in breadcrumbs and then fried in hot oil.

Many farmers working around Edam still produce the city’s famous cheese and sell their wares at a traditional market that takes place during the summer months. Although Gouda is probably now the most popular cheese in the Netherlands, Edam is only a short distance behind its main rival and is readily available throughout the country.