Mimolette 18 Months

During the 18-month aging process, this classic French cheese develops sweet, caramelly notes and a crumbly, craggy texture.

Mimolette dates back to the 17th century, legend has it that Louis XIV commissioned cheesemakers to create their own version of the Dutch Edam when France suspended Dutch imports during the Franco-Dutch War.

Aged Mimolette is typically aged between 18 and 22 months, but you can find younger age profiles as well. To obtain its intense orange colour, the makers at Isigny Sainte Mère use “annatto”, also known as urucum (Bixa orellana). Annatto is a seed extracted from the achiote tree, a shrub that grows mainly in Central America. It is a natural colouring agent that is mixed with the milk at the start of the production process.

During the aging process, cheese mites develop on the rind, aerating the cheese and fostering the development of deep caramel flavors. The French refer to these mites as “tiny affineurs,” due to their important role in the aging process. The mites consume bits of the rind, resulting in a distinct, cratered cantaloupe appearance.

Pairs well with Duck Prosciutto and a drizzle of Honey to balance the salty-sweet flavor.

Ingredients: Cow's Milk, Salt, Ferments (Lactic, Ripening Ferments), Rennet, E160B Annatto Extract, E251 Sodium Nitrate, Lysozyme