Edam is a round Dutch cow's milk cheese that has a mild nutty flavor and a lower fat content than many other popular cheeses, such as Cheddar. It is a pale yellow color and is coated with parrafin wax. the wax is either yellow, red or black, the black color an indication that the cheese has been aged for a minimum of 17 weeks.

Edam was the most popular cheese in the world from the 14th century to the 18th century because it aged well and didn't spoil easily. This made it ideal for traveling on ships to remote colonies.

Edam is an ideal table cheese and can be paired with fruits such as pears, apples, or peaches, breads and crackers, and wines such as Pinot noir or Zinfandel.