Munster is a washed rind, raw cow’s milk cheese, which hails from the Alsace region in France. Real Munster enjoys AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlee) protection, which means if you don’t see “AOC” on the label, it’s not the real deal.
Munster should also not be confused with Muenster, which is an American cheese, and really bears no resemblance to actual Munster.
Real Munster is not a cheese for the weak of nose or those who don’t enjoy a strong cheese. I bought a fresh piece, cut right before my eyes from a whole round. My wife thought it smelled like old sweat socks and made me put it in it’s own grocery bag, least it contaminate everything. It has a beautiful, red rind and a straw colored, semi-soft interior, which has some small air bubbles in it.
Like many washed rind cheeses, the flavor of Munster is on par with the smell. If you are not a strong cheese fan, then you may want to proceed with caution. The cheese has a strong barnyard taste, with a hint of vegetation and slight tangy/astringent aftertaste. Because it’s a washed rind cheese, it’s also slightly salty–I think it would go pretty well with beer.
If you are a strong cheese lover, you owe it to yourself to taste a real Munster, it’s delicious. However, if you don’t have the nose or palette for a strong cheese, start with some milder raw milk offerings before you jump in with this one.