Ewephoria: Sweetest of the Sheep Cheeses

Ewephoria: Sweetest of the Sheep Cheeses
Ewephoria: Sweetest of the Sheep Cheeses
[caption id="attachment_1634" align="alignright" width="244" caption="! HO-8040"]Ewephoria Cheese[/caption] Ewephoria doesn’t need a sweetheart. It’s all brown sugar on its own. In fact, this Gouda-style cheese from Holland is so sweet you can serve it for dessert, and if you tell your guests that they are eating pineapple upside-down cake pressed into cubes, they just might believe you. After all, Ewephoria smells like rum and tastes – I kid you not – faintly of pineapple. To explore the full range of flavors, make sure Ewephoria comes to room temperature before you serve it. Take a deep inhale – you’ll get a nose full of sugary notes: brown butter, dark spirits. Then, pop a shard in your mouth and let it melt on your tongue. See if you can taste three things: 1. Brown sugar on the front end 2. A pleasant, pineapple-like acidity as the cheese softens 3. Salted pecans on the finish Tasting a cheese like this is a great way to develop your palate. The notes are distinct, and the flavors are long lasting. This is the kind of cheese that doesn’t need a cracker or baguette round, although a few Marcona almonds and a Porter make perfect mates. Fans of Beemster and Midnight Moon, this is your next assignment: skip the dessert after Easter supper and go right to Ewephoria. While the kids mainline Peeps and jellybeans, you’ll have all the candy you need. For more palate-flexing homework, please visit Madame Fromage.