It's called Mimolette.
Originally created in the 17th century. Made by the request of Louis XIV, who was looking for a native French product to replace the then very popular Dutch Edam. The cheese is aged in special cellars where cheese mites (Acarus siro) are introduced to the rind. These mites consume the rind, creating a cratered, pitted appearance, and aid in the maturation process. Mimolette offers a complex, savory flavor with notes of butterscotch, salted caramel, roasted hazelnuts, and a subtle sweetness. Known to be a favorite cheese
of French President Charles de Gaulle!
by ByronDenniston
25 Comments
Cheese mites!!!
Cheese mites?!?!
One of my favorite cheeses that I sell, currently.
Just such a complex taste, every single bite.
Mimolette is great. Only age to eat it is when it requires a chainsaw to cut through it.
This is a delicious cheese, that resembles a cantaloupe in appearance.
One of my favorite cheeses. Hard to find in my area.
are the mites still in it….? if not how do they get them out prior to consuming? so many questions
For those who haven’t had it, I’ve described it as a mix between cheddar and parmesan
My favorite cheese to bring to a party. Distinctive, accessible, and relatively unknown even within the industry!
Love it
I mite try this.
This was banned for import into the US for a while due to an issue with the number of mites used to make the rind. I didn’t know about the ban and asked for mimolette at whole foods and the monger leaned in and said “You mean…the forbidden cheese?” He had a little bit in stock but he was limiting how much you could buy. The whole thing was like a drug deal.
Great lore with this one. There’s also the (apocryphal) tale of French sailors running out of cannonballs and firing their stash of mimolette instead.
Ok but will you tell us how you managed to cut it like that???
I adore mimolette. It’s so delicious!
That is clearly a sea sponge
I couldn’t tell if I was on a mineral or cheese sub at first.
Thank you! Together with great memories of this cheese, I have great memories of some Guinness to go with it. Time to do it again.
Used to love telling customers about how Napoleon had thousands of these in his food supply and was forced to use them as canonballs during the siege of Moscow.
Mimolette is one of my favourites, so damn good. The French and their damn sexy cheeses!
I am aroused
It’s great when it’s served to me… still good if I have to cut it up myself.
I had a cat who would practically turn himself inside out for a bite of mimolette. Smart cat.
Can’t fool me. That’s a geode.
it’s a delicious cheese even if its making is so gnarly