Boeren-Leidse met sleutels Cheese

AlexanderVanLoon / CC BY-SA 3.0

About Boeren-Leidse met sleutels Cheese

Boeren-Leidse met sleutels is a traditional Dutch cheese made from skimmed cow’s milk, which results in a lower fat content. This hard cheese is seasoned with cumin seeds, giving it a distinctive spicy flavor. It features a firm texture and is aged for several months, developing a strong, aromatic taste.

Key Facts

Country of Origin	Netherlands
Specific Origin	Area around the Old Rhine River, near the city of Leiden
Protection	PDO (1997)
Milk Type	Cow's milk
Milk Treatment	Pasteurized
Rind	Painted with annatto or colored coatings
Texture	Hard and salty
Flavor	Sweetness from cumin seeds
Aroma	Spicy
Colors	Yellow
Forms	Pressed in molds with the pattern of keys, embossed into their surface
Age	Best aged over six months
Rennet Type	Animal rennet

What is Boeren-Leidse met sleutels Cheese?

Boeren-Leidse met sleutels stands as one of the Netherlands' oldest and few PDO cheeses. It features crossed key symbols on its rind, the emblem of Leiden, and cumin seeds that sweeten its hard, salty paste. Originating in the Western Netherlands, this cheese dates back to the Middle Ages. It became a byproduct of butter, valued on Dutch East India Company ships for its durability.

The cheese earned PDO status in 1997, restricting its production to the Old Rhine's vicinity, near Leiden. It uses milk from specific cattle breeds and includes a unique making process. After forming and pressing, the cheese is brined and coated for protection. Aged over six months, these cheeses range from 6 to 24 pounds.

Also known as Leyden cheese, Boeren-Leidse met sleutels is a traditional farm-made cheese. It features a crumbly texture due to its raw, semi-skimmed milk base. Aged between three to twenty-four months, its wheels are covered in a red-brown, waxed rind. As it ages, it develops a rich flavor with fruity and spicy notes.