Beemster Royal Grand Cru Cheese

Gouda Beemster Royal Grand Cru is the jewel of CONO Kaasmakers' Beemster TM cheese collection. The producer says that the cheesemakers created this Gouda in honor of the appointment of TM Beemster as the cheese supplier to the Royal Court of the Netherlands. Even the name Grand Cru conveys the honor of this position, which is how the wine industry celebrates outstanding vineyards and wineries. 

This Gouda is made in modern high-tech factories, but according to ancient traditions using hand-scraped cheese grains. In addition to the technology, recipe, and adherence to more than a century of cheese-making traditions, the amazing quality of the cheese is influenced by the milk used in production. And this is where the most interesting part begins:

• First, CONO Kaasmakers uses only milk from its own farms at its plants, fully controlling its quality.

• Secondly, the cows and goats on the farms live in free-range conditions, and about 95% of their waking time they graze on the cooperative's meadows.

• Thirdly, the cooperative's pastures are located in the very north of the province of North Holland. It is a swampy area that is 4 meters below sea level. These areas were reclaimed from the North Sea through land reclamation back in 1612. Because of this land contains a unique blue clay and rich minerals of the seabed.

• Fourthly, the territory of the Beemster has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. But thanks to the care for nature, these areas have not been withdrawn from agricultural activities.

• Fifthly, the farms of Beemster take care not only about the good nutrition and health of the animals, but also about their psychological state. The farms use a system of voluntary milking, which allows getting milk without causing negative emotions to the animal - the cow itself determines when it is time for milking and goes into the stall to an automated robot. The producer is proud to call his cows - happy!

•The milk under these conditions has amazing fat and protein content, and the mineral content is impressive.

Gouda Beemster Royal Grand Cru was first released in 2017 as a limited edition for the Easter holiday. But this cheese was so well-liked that the company was forced to put this item on permanent production. This Gouda was praised not only by consumers, but also by experts in the cheese world. In 2017 at the World Cheese Awards, it won the top award, the Super Gold medal, and the following year, 2018, it was honored with a silver award.

Royal Grand Cru has a creamy, creamy texture with a rich, golden color. The flavor of the cheese is expressive, with hints of caramel and nuts. The taste is multifaceted and rich, with a milky acidity, flavors of caramel and nuts. This Gouda has a very long and bright aftertaste, which impresses cheese connoisseurs.

Combination

Gouda Royal Grand Cru blends perfectly with full-bodied dry wines, it is better to choose full-bodied red wines of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and white wines of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc varieties. This cheese would also go well with cider, craft beer, and coffee.

The cheese will be savored on cold sandwiches, in salads, grated on hot dishes. It's delicious to pair Royal Grand Cru with dried figs, dried cranberries, and nuts. Of fresh fruit, we suggest choosing apple, grapes and strawberries.

It is interesting to combine this Gouda with fruit confit and jams, especially orange-pumpkin Mostarda TM J'Elite and orange whiskey marmalade from Gastromeisterni.

Composition

Pasteurized cow's milk, salt, pure cultures of lactic bacteria, sichuzhny enzyme. Packaging (casing) contains preservative (E251), barb (E160b).

Contains milk protein, lactose. Without GMO.

Nutritional value

Energy value 1698 kJ/ 409 kcal, 

26.7 gr. protein,

33.3 gr. fats, 

1.9 gr. salt.