Mimolette Cheese vs Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese
Mimolette Cheese is a smooth, creamy body cow-milk cheese from France, while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese is pliable, fills the borer, termed a 'soft dairy product' and made from cow milk.
What Is Mimolette Cheese?
Mimolette is a hard, bright orange cow's milk cheese made around Lille in northern France. It is sold at several ages, from young wheels that taste like Parmesan to extra-old ones with a hazelnut flavor and a grey, mite-worked rind.
What Is Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
Noord-Hollandse Gouda is a cow's milk Gouda from North Holland and one of three Dutch Goudas with EU protected status. It is made only in the Netherlands, from milk of Dutch cows, and ranges from mild and elastic at four weeks to hard and sharp past a year.
What's the Difference Between Mimolette Cheese and Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
- Texture: Mimolette Cheese (Smooth, creamy body), Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese (Pliable, fills the borer, termed a 'soft dairy product')
- Rind: Mimolette Cheese (Natural), Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese (Closed, smooth, yellow, no visible mold growth)
- Aging: Mimolette Cheese (6 weeks to 24 months), Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese (Minimum of 4 weeks to over 18 months)
- Taste: Mimolette Cheese (Sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel), Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese (Aromatic, pleasant, mild to sharp)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Mimolette Cheese | Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | — |
| Specific Origin | Flanders Area Of Pas-De-Calais | North Holland |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized | Pasteurized |
| Texture | Smooth, creamy body | Pliable, fills the borer, termed a 'soft dairy product' |
| Rind | Natural | Closed, smooth, yellow, no visible mold growth |
| Aging | 6 weeks to 24 months | Minimum of 4 weeks to over 18 months |
| Taste | Sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel | Aromatic, pleasant, mild to sharp |
Taste Comparison: Does Mimolette Cheese Taste Like Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
Mimolette Cheese reads as sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel, while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese brings aromatic, pleasant, mild to sharp character. More specifically, Mimolette Cheese shows mature: dense, waxy, hints of butterscotch; young: mild, while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese leans toward less salty than other gouda cheeses, cumin may be added. Aging plays into this as well. Mimolette Cheese at 6 weeks to 24 months develops a different profile than Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese at minimum of 4 weeks to over 18 months.
Can You Substitute Mimolette Cheese for Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
In most recipes, Mimolette Cheese and Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect smooth, creamy body bite and body where the recipe calls for pliable, fills the borer, termed a 'soft dairy product'. Flavor-wise, Mimolette Cheese reads as sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese brings aromatic, pleasant, mild to sharp notes.
Which Is Better, Mimolette Cheese or Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a smooth, creamy body cheese, go with Mimolette Cheese. For a pliable, fills the borer, termed a 'soft dairy product' profile, Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Mimolette Cheese suits recipes that want sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel notes, while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese fits dishes calling for aromatic, pleasant, mild to sharp.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mimolette Cheese the same as Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Mimolette Cheese is typically aged 6 weeks to 24 months, Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese minimum of 4 weeks to over 18 months.
Is Mimolette Cheese similar to Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Mimolette Cheese for Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Mimolette Cheese taste like Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
Mimolette Cheese reads as sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel, while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese is aromatic, pleasant, mild to sharp.
What is Mimolette Cheese made of?
Mimolette Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 6 weeks to 24 months. It originates in France.
What is Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese made of?
Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized), using calf or microbial rennet, no genetically modified organisms used rennet. It's typically aged minimum of 4 weeks to over 18 months.
Which should I choose, Mimolette Cheese or Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Mimolette Cheese is smooth, creamy body, while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese is pliable, fills the borer, termed a 'soft dairy product'.