Tilsit

The story of Tilsit is a tale of European nomadism.

The style was invented by Dutch who were living in East Prussia, which was then part of Russia, but today is Lithuania.

Then some Germans started making it as Tilsiter, which became the model for a superior Swiss version.

Got all that? Good. Now, let’s look at the variety that ended up being made in Denmark, via a trading route across the Baltic Sea.

Danish Tilsit is a semi-firm cheese, made in loaves. The paste is yellow and pockmarked with small holes. It’s aromatic and intensely flavored, although the German Tilsiter is even bolder. If you’re familiar with Havarti, think of Danish Tilsit as its more interesting sibling.

Tilsit’s nice with cold cuts, or melted on to a tuna sandwich.