Edam has a delightfully mild flavor. It is creamy but firm enough for slicing and has a smooth texture. It is named after a the city of Edam where it was made and brought to market for centuries. The difference between Edam and Gouda is the fat content. Edam has only 40% I.D.M and Gouda contains 48% I.D.M. It typicall comes in 2 and 4 pound balls or a 5 pound loaf. Edam was originally made in a ball shape because it stacked well in the holds of the Dutch transport sailing vessels of the 15th century.
