New cheese on the block: Old Amsterdam

A new cheese from Holland is set to be the next big thing on the cheeseboard. Old Amsterdam, a gourmet Dutch matured cheese with a rich, nutty flavour, is recognised as one of the ‘Premier Grand Cru Classe’ cheeses and is hitting supermarket shelves and deli counters now.

A high quality versatile cheese, Old Amsterdam can be enjoyed as an after-dinner savoury treat with a fine red wine and biscuits, and can also be grated, sliced, melted and cooked as part of a main course meal or snack. It comes coated in a sleek, black wax and is an indulgent alternative to Gouda.

To date, the cheese has achieved record sales in the UK with more than seven tonnes being sold, with one supermarket having sold 1.5 tonnes in January 2011 alone. In addition, in 2011 it won the Supreme Prize at the Yorkshire Show.

In response to the demand, producers of Old Amsterdam are rapidly churning out more of the cheese to satisfy UK tastes, as Chris Chisnall, spokesperson for Old Amsterdam in the UK explains: “Its great to see the UK market going crazy for such a unique tasting cheese.

“During times when families are watching their weekly spend, it’s often the case that dining out has to be put on the back burner and ‘eating in’ becomes the new ‘eating out’ – which would account for an increase in sales.”

Old Amsterdam is available in major supermarkets and independent delicatessens across the UK now.

Follow Old Amsterdam Cheese onTwitter: @oldamsterdamuk