Gouda is a Dutch cheese named for the city of Gouda in the Netherlands where it was first traded – not created– and is sometimes wrapped in red wax. The red wax is a clear sign you’re in for something delicious.

This Dutch cheese is a semi-hard cheese, typically made from cow’s milk and has a rich, unique flavor and smooth texture. In the states, this cheese is commonly paired with burgers and other handhelds, but traditionally in Europe, it is used to enrich soups and sauces (similar to parmesan).

The cheese is coated in wax as part of the aging process to prevent it from drying out but it has given gouda a distinct marker in the world of cheeses.

Market research firm Datassential reports that the cheese is curre3ntly found on 8.2% of U.S. menus and around 57% of the population has tried it.

As always, click through the gallery to learn more about this Flavor of the Week: Gouda.