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Fermentation Atlas

Cheese from Denmark, the island of Funen

Fynbo

Cow milk is set with rennet and a lactic starter, the curd is cut, lightly heated, pre-pressed in the vat and pressed in moulds, then usually brined. The wheels ripen moist then dry at 10–20 °C with frequent washing, for at least six weeks, into a mild, Gouda-like cheese with a few pea- to cherry-sized eyes. It began as a Danish copy of Gouda in 1898. Made in 5 steps over 42 days. The longest step, ripen with frequent washing, takes at least 42 days (Codex standard C-25-1971 for Fynbo) and runs at 10–20 °C (Codex standard C-25-1971 for Fynbo). Lactic acid bacteria starter does most of the fermenting.

Key numbers
Main stepat least 42 daysSet[codex-c25]Ripen with frequent washing
Temperature10–20 °CSet[codex-c25]Ripen with frequent washing
Fully documentedCheese42 daysformer Codex individual standard C-25 (1971)Family: Washed-curd cheese family (Gouda as template)More washed-curd cheesesMore from Denmark

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedThe standard fixes limits, not a recipe. Wheels weigh 4–15 kg; Mini-Fynbo 0.2–1.5 kg.
Cow milk[codex-c25]
Lactic acid bacteria cultures[codex-c25]
Rennet or another suitable clotting enzyme[codex-c25]
Salt · Usually by brining[codex-c25]
Optional calcium chloride, nitrate, annatto or beta-carotene, and water · Within the standard's limits[codex-c25]
Starter: lactic starter culture

Total time across the recorded steps: 42 days

Start
Drag the bar or press Play
shapes, not to countLactic acid bacteria

What changes: A lactic starter and rennet go into the milk and it sets into a curd

Step 1 of 5
Set with rennet and starter
Time
Not documented
Temperature
Not documented
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Lactic acid bacteria
Flavour
Not documented
Texture
Not documented
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

lactic fermentation begins

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source

What makes this one different

Fynbo is close to Gouda but its rind is washed often during ripening, and it has only a few eyes, each the size of a pea to a cherry. The Danish encyclopedia says it has now disappeared from the Danish market.

Milk
Cow milk
Fat
At least 45 % fat in dry matter and at most 45 % moisture; Fynbo 30 % and Mini-Fynbo have their own limits
Ripening
At least six weeks before sale (Mini-Fynbo four weeks)
Rind
Hard, dry, yellow; may be waxed or plastic-coated
Size
4–15 kg; height to diameter 1:4 to 1:3; Mini-Fynbo 0.2–1.5 kg, about 1:2

Related ferments

Variants

  • Fynbo 30 %At least 30 % fat in dry matter, at most 52 % moisture.
  • Mini-Fynbo0.2–1.5 kg, height to diameter about 1:2; at least 45 % fat in dry matter, at most 47 % moisture; sold from four weeks.
  • Trope-FynboAn export version with high salt and low water activity to keep in hot climates.

Safety

The Codex standard sets composition and at least six weeks of ripening before sale; it does not say whether the milk is pasteurised.

History and sources

Every number is labelled with how it is known. How this atlas is made

The first cheese of this kind was made at Langeskov dairy on east Funen after its owner visited Holland in 1898; that production ran until 1908. Sold as "Danish Gouda" until 1952, it took the name Fynbo when the Stresa Convention renamed many Danish cheeses. Codex adopted an individual standard for it, C-25, in 1971.

  1. [codex-c25] Codex standard C-25-1971 for Fynbo, as adopted in El Salvador NSR 67.00.217:99 'Queso Fynbo' (CONACYT)spec
  2. [skibsted-lex] Skibsted L.H., Fynbo - ost, Lex (Den Store Danske)book
  3. [sihufe2003] Sihufe G.A., Zorrilla S.E., Rubiolo A.C. 2003, Casein degradation of Fynbo cheese salted with NaCl/KCl brine and ripened at various temperatures, Journal of Food Science 68:117–123 (abstract)paper