Limburger cheese facts for kids
Limburger cheese is a special type of cheese made from cows' milk. It gets its name from a place called the Duchy of Limburg. This area is now split between Holland, Belgium, and Germany.
Limburger cheese is famous for its very strong smell. This smell comes from a tiny living thing called a bacterium that grows on its outside, called the rind. Most Limburger cheese has been made in Germany since the mid-1800s.
People often joke about Limburger's strong smell. In 2006, scientists won an Ig Nobel Prize for a funny but true discovery. They found that malaria mosquitoes are just as attracted to the smell of Limburger cheese as they are to the smell of human feet! Because of this, Limburger cheese has been used in some parts of Africa to help fight malaria.
What is Limburger Cheese Like?
When Limburger cheese is first made, it is firm and crumbly. It feels a bit like feta cheese. After about six weeks, the edges of the cheese start to get softer. The inside is still firm, and it tastes salty and a bit chalky.
After two months, the cheese becomes mostly creamy and much smoother. When it reaches three months old, it develops its well-known strong smell. This smell is caused by a specific bacterium called Brevibacterium linens. This same bacterium is also found on human skin and helps cause body odor, especially foot odor.
How People Eat Limburger Cheese
One of the most traditional ways to eat Limburger is in a Limburger sandwich. After about three months, the cheese becomes soft enough to spread. People often spread a thick layer (more than half a centimeter) of cheese on firm rye bread. They usually add a large, thick slice of onion. This sandwich is often eaten with strong black coffee or lager beer.
Sometimes, people cut thick chunks or slices of the cheese (up to 1.5 centimeters thick) and put them in the sandwich. This sandwich is still very popular among the descendants of German immigrants in the Midwestern United States, especially in places like Wisconsin and Ohio. However, it is less popular with younger generations, mainly because of its strong smell. Also, it can be hard to find, as you often need to go to special cheese shops. In Wisconsin, some restaurants still offer the Limburger sandwich on their menus, often served with brown mustard.
