Coolea
This
cow's milk cheese is made by the Willems family in the Irish hills of
County Cork. Dick and Helene Willems, a married couple of Dutch descent,
began their adventure in cheesemaking when they quit the restaurant
business and toured Europe in search of a more peaceful place to live.
After brief stints in France and Spain, the family settled down on a farm
near the inland town of Coolea in Cork. Not wanting to return to the
restaurant business, the couple needed to find a new line of work. Given
the excellent grazing conditions on their farm, they inevitably turned to
cheesemaking. Owing to their Dutch heritage, they decided to make an Irish
version of Gouda. The presence of wild Irish herbs in the grazing fields
gives Coolea a richer, fruitier flavor than Dutch Gouda. Mature Coolea,
which is aged for over 6 months, is piquant with a delicious, fresh
aftertaste.
