Hauts-de-France · France
Mimolette.
Mimolette's deep burnt-orange paste shatters under your teeth, releasing waves of salted caramel and roasted hazelnut with a whisper of dried apricot. Its natural rind, pocked and cratered like a miniature asteroid, smells faintly of mushroom earth and aged leather—a textural and aromatic prelude to the dense, crystalline bite within.
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Origin
50.1°N · 2.7°E
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Mimolette was created at the behest of Louis XIV, who wanted a French alternative to the popular Dutch Edam. Its brilliant orange color comes from annatto.
During extended aging, the rind is colonized by cheese mites that create the characteristic pitted surface. The extra-vieille version ages up to 24 months.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Cow · pasteurised
- Family
- Hard
- Rind
- natural
- Age
- 3–24 mo
- Intensity
- 3 / 5
- Texture
- hard
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Mimolette's flavour and aroma notes, scaled by the cheese's overall intensity — a quick guide, not a lab measurement.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100 g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100 g serving — about a finger-thick wedge. Daily values use the FDA 2020 reference of 2,000 kcal. Expect ±5% variation between wheels.
Serve, cut & store
Out of the fridge,
into its prime.
Guidance for hard cheeses — general practice, not a per-wheel measurement.
Rest
Take it out about 30–60 min before serving — cold stiffens the fat and locks up the aromas; cool room temperature is when the flavour shows up.
Cut
Use a sturdy knife, or break it into craggy chunks with a spike — shards and shavings beat neat slices.
Store
Wrap leftovers in cheese paper or wax paper — never cling film, which suffocates the rind — and keep them in the warmest part of the fridge.
Rule of thumb: the softer and riper, the longer it needs. Thick pieces need longer than thin — and don't leave cheese out much past two hours.
Pairings · Caseo curated
What goes with Mimolette.
45 pairings across 7 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Spirits
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Mimolette are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Mimolette at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
Take it with you
Want to remember this one?.
Log it, pair it, and keep your own tasting notes — Caseo is free.
