Cheese story
What is Leyden?
A Dutch cumin cheese with a distinctive spiced aroma.
Origin
Leiden / South Holland, Netherlands
Milk
cow
Board role
Hard / mature
Cheese profile
Country
Netherlands
Region
Leiden / South Holland
Milk type
cow
Texture
semi-hard
Rind
natural or waxed
Ageing
3 to 12 months
Vegetarian
Check the rennet / producer
Milk treatment
varies
Flavour profile: cumin-spiced, tangy, savoury
Origin, protection and character
Leyden comes from Netherlands, especially Leiden / South Holland. Its character comes from the balance of milk, texture, rind, ageing and local serving traditions.
Protected status
PDO for Boeren-Leidse met sleutels
Typical ageing
3 to 12 months
How to serve Leyden
sandwiches, rye bread, cheese boards
Good food matches
beer
mustard
pickles
Serving tip
Take it out of the fridge before serving so the texture softens and the flavour opens up. Softer cheeses usually need less time than hard aged cheeses.
Buying tip
Look for clean aroma, good texture and a style that matches the board: fresh and bright, soft and creamy, hard and nutty, blue and salty, or bold and washed-rind.
