Cheeses of Belgium

Chimay

This cheese gets its name from the town in Belgium where it originated. It is produced under the historic guidance of the monks who originally produced cheeses within their Trappist monastery and community. The cheese is made from cow's milk and is considered to be a semi-soft pressed cheese. Pressed cheeses are manufactured by churning the curds until they are very small in size at which point they are reheated to harden the curd in order to create a stiffer paste. The suspended whey is then extracted into a mould where it is formed into a small round wheel of cheese that is then removed from the mould and brine-cured for only a few hours. Following the brine bath, the Chimay cheese is salted and stored in cool moist cellars to age for several months.

Farmhouse

Farmhouse is a term that is commonly applied to any of the different types of European cheeses that are made by traditional cheese making methods and are produced from the raw milk of animals, such as cows, goats, and sheep that are raised on small regional farms, mountain chalet farms, or mountain huts. The quantities of cheese produced from farmhouse methods are small. When approved for production by the European AOC (Appellation d'Origine Controlee) the cheese is categorized as a "fermier" or "farmhouse" variety. Although this term originated in Europe, it is also often used to classify American varieties of cheese.

Farmstead

The term, Farmstead Cheeses, refers to cheeses made with milk collected from a group of farms that are located within close proximity to where the cheese is produced. Typically, the owners of the farms raise their animals on similar grasses, in similar areas, and with similar methods to produce the milk that is used in the production of the cheese. A similar term often associated with European cheeses is "farmhouse cheese," referring to cheeses produced in lower volumes and made on individual farms that are situated in valleys, mountainous areas, or the meadowlands of Europe.

Herve

Herve is a Belgian cow's milk cheese that has a very strong aroma and flavor. The cheese is light yellow in color with a red or brown skin. Occasionally, it is given even more flavor with the addition of herbs. Herve cheese is named for the Belgian town where it originated.

Limburger

With an aroma that is very strong, Limburger cheese originated when it was first produced by the Trappist monks in Belgium in the early 18th century. Made from cow's milk, Limburger cheese is soft-ripened for three to four months using coryneform bacteria. The bacteria combine with the acids in the cheese to produce molecules that contribute significantly to the pungent aroma.

Produced throughout the world, Limburger cheese is most often found in the U.K., U.S., and Germany—especially Germany, where it is so popular that it is often thought of as a cheese of German origin. It is produced in wheels, blocks, or wedges of cheese. Covered with a thin edible rind that is light ivory to reddish brown in color, the paste of the Limburger cheese is white, smoothly textured, and sharp or salty tasting.

Most often, Limburger cheese goes well with hearty meats; robust red wines or dark beers; and earthy brown breads, such as rye or heavy wheat breads. It may also be combined with crackers, fruits, raw onions, salty fish, and nuts when served as an appetizer.

Passendale

Passendale is a soft cheese made from cow's milk. It is produced in the Flanders region of Belgium. Passendale cheese is typically formed into a shape similar to a round bread loaf with an outer rough rind that is covered with a dusting of fine white mold. As a fresh cheese, the interior is cream-colored and smooth with tiny eyes throughout. As it ages, the interior turns into a golden tan. Passendale has a slightly tangy but mellow flavor and is a good cheese to serve as a snack or used in recipes that are grilled.