Which orange cheese is also called "Boule de Lille" or "Old Holland"?

Mimolette, often mistaken for a Dutch cheese, actually hails from the north of France, specifically the Lille region. Known as "Boule de Lille," Mimolette was created during the reign of Louis XIV, inspired by Edam cheese. During the war between France and the Netherlands, Colbert banned the import of Dutch cheese, prompting the creation of a French alternative, Mimolette. To differentiate it from its Dutch counterpart, Mimolette was given its distinctive orange color and its rind is not coated with paraffin.

The name "Mimolette" is derived from the word "mollet," meaning semi-soft, reflecting its initial texture. However, as it ages, the cheese becomes more brittle.

Mimolette is made from cow's milk, with a pressed, uncooked paste, and its rind is brushed at the end of the aging process. It is rarely coated with paraffin. The cheese's orange hue comes from a natural dye called annatto. Nowadays, industrial production often uses carotene to achieve its color. Mimolette typically weighs around 2 kg and measures about 20 cm in diameter.