Cheese Database

Maasdam vs Passendale cheese

Maasdam, field guide plate
Maasdam, photographed

Maasdam

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Semi-hard
Type
Pressed
Rind
Natural rind
Country
Netherlands

Maasdam is a Dutch cow's-milk cheese with large eyes and a sweet, nutty taste. It was created in the late twentieth century as a faster, milder answer to Swiss Emmental.

Passendale cheese

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Semi-soft
Type
Pressed
Rind
Natural rind
Country
Belgium

Passendale cheese is a semi-soft cow's milk cheese from Belgium. It is made from pasteurized milk, and the wheels are round with a bulging shape that some people compare to a small loaf. The rind is brown, firm enough to hold the cheese, and dotted with light mold, and it is edible. Inside, the paste is golden, creamy, and marked with small holes. The taste is mild and slightly sweet, which makes it an easy table cheese.