Its striking round appearance may remind you of a cantaloupe, but it is actually a French copy of Edam. In the 17th century King Louis XIV’s chief minister, Colbert, banded the import of Edam cheese, so several French dairies created what we now enjoy as Mimolette. The inside of Mimolette has a deep orange color from the South American Annatto shrub, which is a natural food coloring used in many cheeses we eat today. It is a unique flavored and strikingly colored cheese to have on your cheese board. Firm yet surprisingly creamy and texturally soft, it has a mild flavor that hints at a fruity nuttiness, caramel undertones, and a subtly sharp finish.