Mondseer facts for kids

Mondseer is a special kind of cheese from Austria. It's sometimes called Mondseer box cheese because it can be sold in small wooden boxes. It's a type of semi-hard cheese, which means it's not super soft or super hard. It's also a washed-rind cheese, which means its outside (the rind) is washed during the making process to give it a unique flavor.

How Mondseer Cheese Started

The story of how Mondseer cheese began has a couple of different versions.

Early Beginnings in Salzburg

One story says that this cheese has been made in the Salzburg area of Austria since 1818. People think it might have first been made at a place called the Castle of Hüttenstein. In this version of the story, the cheese was just called "box cheese" for a long time. The name "Mondseer" wasn't used until 1955.

Named After a Monastery

Another story suggests that Mondseer cheese started being made a bit later, around 1830. This account says the cheese got its name from a famous monastery in the town of Mondsee, Austria.

What Mondseer Cheese is Like

Mondseer cheese is usually shaped like a disk or a wheel. It's made from cow's milk that has been pasteurized, meaning it's been heated to make it safe. The milk can be whole milk or milk with some fat removed.

Texture and Appearance

This cheese is semi-hard and feels smooth and creamy. If you look closely, you might see small holes inside it. Its texture is a bit like other cheeses such as Munster or Limburger.

How it Gets its Color and Flavor

During the time it ages, which is usually three to six weeks, the cheese is brushed by hand with salty water. It also gets special red cultures rubbed on its surface. This process helps create a yellow-reddish rind on the outside of the cheese.

Mondseer cheese has a mild smell, but it can sometimes be a bit strong. Its taste is sweet and sour, and it can also be a little sharp or tangy. Each loaf of Mondseer cheese usually weighs about one kilogram (which is about 2.2 pounds). It has a fat content of 45%.